Yes, they did it again. No matter the score, these Celtics never seem to be out of the game, and they proved it once more by beating the Knicks with a fourth-quarter comeback, 105-104. The winning points came on an Avery Bradley driving layup with 17 seconds left, on yet another clever after-timeout play drawn up by Brad Stevens. Boston has now won 13 straight at home.
Isaiah Thomas was unstoppable with 32 points, while Evan Turner had 21 and Jae Crowder 20. Carmelo Anthony had 30 for the Knicks but missed a deep three at the buzzer, while being pressured by Marcus Smart, that would have won it.
The Celtics didn’t play with their full commitment in the first half, and it showed in every facet. The Knicks, desperate for a win, were happy to take advantage.
In the first quarter, the Celts were effective early in getting out on the break and taking it to the paint. IT and Jae combined for 18 points in the period. But the Knicks got their offense too easily – Anthony scored 13 on Crowder while Kristaps Porzingis torched Amir Johnson for eight. New York shot 52% in the quarter and led, 31-27.
In the second, NY ran off seven straight points to extend to a 47-38 lead, forcing a Boston timeout. The Cs weren’t playing with their normal intensity, and the Knicks capitalized by getting almost any shot they wanted. The Cs closed the quarter with a 9-3 run, but still trailed 58-53. NY maintained its 52% shooting, including 6-11 on treys, and committed just four turnovers. Meanwhile, Boston was at 42% and only 2-13 from the arc. Carmelo and Isaiah both had 18 points.
We expected the Celts to crank up the defense after halftime. Instead, Anthony hit from 19 feet and Porzingis bombed in a corner three to double New York’s lead to 10. That brought another timeout from Brad with less than a minute gone in the quarter.
Soon after, the Cs went small, with Smart replacing Amir. It immediately paid off with two steals leading to an IT fast break layup and a Bradley transition three. A couple more breakouts capped a 15-2 run that put Boston ahead 71-67.
Just when it looked like Boston was gaining control, Kyle O’Quinn unexpectedly turned it around for the Knicks. He hit two jumpers to tie the score, and NY recovered to end the quarter ahead 87-81 (one point better than at halftime).
In the first six minutes of the fourth, Tyler Zeller made four baskets and everyone else made none as the Knicks built a 96-89 lead. With three minutes left, Boston trailed by seven, but – as usual – the relentless Cs weren’t done. Three straight hoops off fast breaks brought the Celts within 100-99 with 1:31 left.
After a timeout, Anthony got a very kind bounce around the rim on a jumper that restored New York’s lead to three. After another timeout, IT drove the lane and fed Jared Sullinger for a layup. A strong defensive stand forced an airball by Robin Lopez, then ET hit a foul-line jumper for the lead with 36 seconds left. But Carmelo hit a fadeaway from the wing as NY regained the one-point lead before Bradley’s game-winner.
The Green:
- Isaiah spent the night attacking the basket and drawing fouls, making 12 of 13 from the line.
- The Knicks shot 45% for the game, but only 32% (8-25) in the fourth quarter.
- Back and forth game: 11 lead changes and 15 ties.
- ET was 10-19 as he repeatedly drove the lane for layups and paint jumpers.
- During the late-game rally, Crowder made a dunk and layup off long passes from Sully, who had 11 boards.
- Zeller was a force off the bench, with 12 points and five boards in 18 minutes.
- Celts outscored the Knicks 30-4 on fastbreak points.
The Gross:
- Early first quarter, the Celtics allowed NY to rebound their own missed free throw, resulting in a three-pointer by Anthony. Inexcusable.
- Boston shot just 4-20 from the arc.
- There was noticeable cheering in the building for the Knicks, no doubt from many New Yorkers who attend college in Boston. This has always been a factor when the Knicks visit.
- Referee Marc Davis called Smart for a sketchy offensive foul, then hit Marcus with a T while they were having a conversion about it. Smart was not yelling at him, but that’s Davis’ M.O., abusing his power. Davis also called Turner for an up-and-down on a shot fake, even though ET’s right foot clearly didn’t leave the floor.
The Greenlights:
Looking long
Touchdown, Celtics! Catch the rest of tonight’s game live on @CSNNE right now. pic.twitter.com/r32FM0X4z8
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 5, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsIT to Jae
IT launches from deep! Or at least he wanted the Knicks to think so: pic.twitter.com/XDbIOZcn5D — Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 5, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Flush
Tyler Zeller slices through the New York defense for the loud slam! pic.twitter.com/89fIDOapta
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 5, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The Grid:
- The Celts committed just eight turnovers.
- Points in the Paint: Knicks 32 (16/33), Celtics 60 (30/49)
- Porzingis played well for NY and scored 15 points, but only saw the court for 20 minutes. Thanks, Kurt Rambis!
- On January 21, the Celtics were 22-21, the Knicks were 22-22. Since then: Celtics 16-4, Knicks 3-16.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
