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Madison Square Garden buzzed with anticipation, hearts warmed by nostalgia. One of the Knicks’ own had been immortalized.
Fresh off his induction as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Carmelo Anthony was honored by a sellout Garden crowd on Tuesday night. A tribute video pulsed on the Jumbotron, flashing his greatest moments in orange and blue. The camera cut to Melo, seated courtside. He stood, waved, and the ovation swelled into a roar.
It was supposed to be a celebration. A night for one legend to soak in his flowers — and for the current Knicks, finally whole for the first time all season, to show they belonged among the league’s elite.
Then Kristaps Porzingis rewrote the script.
Once the heir to Anthony’s throne in New York, Porzingis is now a key piece of a Celtics team that has owned the Knicks all season. Tuesday was supposed to be different — a shot at redemption. Instead, it became the latest chapter in Porzingis’ personal revenge tour against the franchise that drafted him, then traded him away.
And he delivered.
Porzingis poured in 34 points on 11-of-19 shooting, drilling 8-of-13 from behind the arc — the most threes he’s ever hit in a game against the Knicks — and hit the dagger from near the logo in overtime to give Boston a 115-112 lead with under 40 seconds to go. The Celtics escaped with a 119-117 win, their fourth over New York this season to complete the sweep.
“Well they’ve got guys that can go off the dribble,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff on Tuesday. “Porzingis can spread you out. They make the extra pass. It requires you to contain dribble penetration. And then read the ball, and then you gotta fly out, challenge the ball. The rebounding is also a huge factor.”
The Knicks had every reason to believe this one might go their way. They were competitive from the jump, leading after the first quarter for the first time all season against Boston. Karl-Anthony Towns punished the Celtics’ smaller front line and finished with 34 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson looked sharp in his second game back from injury, notching 27 points and nine assists. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures.
But when Porzingis got going, New York couldn’t stop the bleeding.
He scored 12 in the second quarter and another 13 in the third, erasing the Knicks’ early lead with a barrage of threes that exposed a familiar flaw: New York’s struggles guarding stretch bigs who can pop beyond the arc.
The Celtics tied it late in regulation on a series of dagger plays from Jayson Tatum, who finished with 32 points, including a cold-blooded step-back three over OG Anunoby with under 20 seconds to play. Josh Hart missed a fading baseline jumper at the buzzer that would’ve won it.
In overtime, Porzingis reemerged — drilling a near-logo three with Brunson trailing to put Boston up for good.
The loss stung more because it came on a night when the Garden had something to celebrate. Anthony’s legacy was front and center. His understudy — once booed as his replacement — stole the spotlight.
Mikal Bridges added 14 points but committed a costly turnover in overtime. Anunoby’s hot streak ended abruptly with just 11 points and an 0-for-5 mark from downtown — his first game without a made three since Jan. 20.
The loss kept the Knicks from clinching the No. 3 seed in the East. With the Pacers beating the Wizards on Tuesday, New York’s lead is down to two games with three to play.
Next up: A trip to Detroit for a game against the Pistons — the team they may face in the first round. It’s not quite win-or-go-home yet, but the pressure is building.
And on Tuesday night, the Celtics — and one familiar face — reminded the Knicks exactly what kind of challenge awaits in Round 2.
Continue reading...
Fresh off his induction as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Carmelo Anthony was honored by a sellout Garden crowd on Tuesday night. A tribute video pulsed on the Jumbotron, flashing his greatest moments in orange and blue. The camera cut to Melo, seated courtside. He stood, waved, and the ovation swelled into a roar.
It was supposed to be a celebration. A night for one legend to soak in his flowers — and for the current Knicks, finally whole for the first time all season, to show they belonged among the league’s elite.
Then Kristaps Porzingis rewrote the script.
Once the heir to Anthony’s throne in New York, Porzingis is now a key piece of a Celtics team that has owned the Knicks all season. Tuesday was supposed to be different — a shot at redemption. Instead, it became the latest chapter in Porzingis’ personal revenge tour against the franchise that drafted him, then traded him away.
And he delivered.
Porzingis poured in 34 points on 11-of-19 shooting, drilling 8-of-13 from behind the arc — the most threes he’s ever hit in a game against the Knicks — and hit the dagger from near the logo in overtime to give Boston a 115-112 lead with under 40 seconds to go. The Celtics escaped with a 119-117 win, their fourth over New York this season to complete the sweep.
“Well they’ve got guys that can go off the dribble,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said ahead of tipoff on Tuesday. “Porzingis can spread you out. They make the extra pass. It requires you to contain dribble penetration. And then read the ball, and then you gotta fly out, challenge the ball. The rebounding is also a huge factor.”
The Knicks had every reason to believe this one might go their way. They were competitive from the jump, leading after the first quarter for the first time all season against Boston. Karl-Anthony Towns punished the Celtics’ smaller front line and finished with 34 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson looked sharp in his second game back from injury, notching 27 points and nine assists. All five Knicks starters scored in double figures.
But when Porzingis got going, New York couldn’t stop the bleeding.
He scored 12 in the second quarter and another 13 in the third, erasing the Knicks’ early lead with a barrage of threes that exposed a familiar flaw: New York’s struggles guarding stretch bigs who can pop beyond the arc.
The Celtics tied it late in regulation on a series of dagger plays from Jayson Tatum, who finished with 32 points, including a cold-blooded step-back three over OG Anunoby with under 20 seconds to play. Josh Hart missed a fading baseline jumper at the buzzer that would’ve won it.
In overtime, Porzingis reemerged — drilling a near-logo three with Brunson trailing to put Boston up for good.
The loss stung more because it came on a night when the Garden had something to celebrate. Anthony’s legacy was front and center. His understudy — once booed as his replacement — stole the spotlight.
Mikal Bridges added 14 points but committed a costly turnover in overtime. Anunoby’s hot streak ended abruptly with just 11 points and an 0-for-5 mark from downtown — his first game without a made three since Jan. 20.
The loss kept the Knicks from clinching the No. 3 seed in the East. With the Pacers beating the Wizards on Tuesday, New York’s lead is down to two games with three to play.
Next up: A trip to Detroit for a game against the Pistons — the team they may face in the first round. It’s not quite win-or-go-home yet, but the pressure is building.
And on Tuesday night, the Celtics — and one familiar face — reminded the Knicks exactly what kind of challenge awaits in Round 2.
Continue reading...
