In terms of intensity, trash talk and physicality, this one played like a regular season game. The Celtics dropped to 3-1 in the preseason, losing in New York to the now 4-0 Knicks, 101-95.
Boston struggled from the field, making 33 of 83 (39.8%) and 8 of 21 (38.1%) on threes. The Celts had an advantage at the free throw line, but made just 21 of 30. They were also hurt by committing 18 turnovers to only seven for the Knicks.
Isaiah Thomas led with 13 points, Tyler Zeller added a dozen, Evan Turner had 11, and James Young emerged to score 10. Derrick Williams led the Knicks with 19.
The Cs were playing catch-up throughout the second half but were still within reach, until RJ Hunter forced up and missed a bad three-pointer with a minute left. On the subsequent New York possession, the Knicks made a three for an eight-point lead and final control.
As Brad Stevens continues to experiment, the starting five was an interesting mix of Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, David Lee and Amir Johnson. Marcus Smart (illness) and Terry Rozier (sore knee) both missed the game, as expected.
Boston started slowly, down 8-2 and then 12-4 before calling timeout just four minutes in. The Celts came back to take a 14-13 lead, thanks to a 10-0 run highlighted by five points from IT. Thomas and Johnson connected on the pick-and-roll a couple of times. Hunter bombed in his first 3-point attempt, and made a sweet pass off the dribble to Zeller, who drew a shooting foul. Despite five turnovers, Boston shot 12-22 and led 32-31 at the end of the first quarter. Amir and IT had eight points each.
Everything bogged down in the second quarter, as Boston shot just 6-20, missing or being blocked several times in the paint. They were also outrebounded 16-11. IT and Amir both were scoreless for the quarter. The Celts trailed at halftime, 54-47.
Stevens had indicated he would rest some of the regulars in the second half, and he did: Crowder and Johnson sat out the final 24 minutes.
The game turned physical in the third quarter. Boston had been having trouble matching the bulk of Robin Lopez and Kyle O’Quinn, when Jared Sullinger grabbed a rebound and dribbled coast-to-coast. O’Quinn clobbered him, drawing a flagrant one, and there was some glaring by both teams. Two minutes later, Sully returned the favor with a hard, non-flagrant foul on O’Quinn’s drive.
Boston closed to within 77-73 at the end of the third, despite struggling again from the field (8-22). The Celtics outrebounded the Knicks in the frame, 17-13. Zeller led with six points, and Young added a spark by hitting his first shot, a corner three.
The youngsters took over in the fourth quarter. Young hit a deep three, then aggressively drew a foul, making two free throws. Jordan Mickey chased down and swatted a Knicks layup. Hunter ran the point and wasn’t great but did connect with Mickey twice, on a beautiful give-and-go and a slick drive-and-dish.
The Green:
Two defensive plays stood out in the first half. Amir stripped Robin Lopez in a 2-on-1 situation under the basket, and Bradley blocked a jump shot by Arron Afflalo. In the second quarter, Zeller rejected a layup that led to a fastbreak.
Young had his best outing in a long time: 10 points on 3-4 shooting, including a pair of threes.
Mickey impressed again, playing the entire fourth quarter and posting six points, six rebounds and two blocks.
The Gross:
Turner dunked off a breakaway after a steal, but the basket was taken away on a traveling call. Referees had to be reminded this was an NBA game.
Once again, Sullinger did not check in until the beginning of the second quarter. He shot poorly (1-8) but contributed with 10 rebounds and some toughness in 19 minutes.
Brad got T’d up after refs missed Zeller being fouled on a breakaway dunk.
Perry Jones was a DNP-coach’s decision.
The Greenlights:
Kelly Olynyk with the Dirk imitation
Mickey with the rejection
Young from deep
The Grid:
- Points in the paint: Celtics 36 (18/37), Knicks 28 (14/36)
- 2nd-chance points: Celtics 17 (6/10), Knicks 11 (5/16) on 18 offensive boards
- Fastbreak points: Celtics 11 (4/5), Knicks 5 (2/2)
- Knicks’ No. 4 overall pick Kristaps Porzingis sat out with a muscle strain.
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