In one of the first testy matchups of the season, the Celtics flexed their muscles. They crushed the New York Knicks and walked away with a resounding 28-point victory. The Celtics’ game changing run turned the tide of the series! Today, they have raised their own stakes and expectations ahead of the approaching Olympic and ParaOlympic Games in New York. Their NCAA tournament game, hosted at TD Garden here in Boston, was 59-59 by halftime, an indication that a great battle was underway.
The Knicks surged to a big lead early in the first half. They dominated the game and built a nine-point lead. Mitchell Robinson rounded out the trio of stars that helped preserve New York’s lead and create separation. He went on to make all four of his attempts from the charity stripe before intermission. The Celtics deliberately used an intentional foul strategy on Robinson, hoping to get him out of his groove.
Boston came out to start the second half a different team, completely reversing the tenor of the game. The Celtics opened the third on a blistering 23-9 run. This explosion carried them to a dominant 91-76 lead as they headed into the last quarter. Jaylen Brown was Boston’s leading scorer with 26 points, while impressively chipping in an impressive 12 assists on the night, making a major impact all-around. Luke Kornet was huge with 10 points, nine boards and seven blocks.
As that fourth quarter played out last week, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was doing his best to keep his squad in contention. He managed to score 22 points throughout the game but faced a setback when he fouled out with 7:19 remaining on the clock. With Brunson unable to take the floor, the Knicks never found their footing again.
The Celtics capitalized on this advantage, extending their lead and ultimately sealing the game with a remarkable performance that underscored their dominance. The game was wrapped up with a clear Boston domination, turning what seemed like a tough start into a well-controlled blowout win.
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