Jaylen Brown on one side, Jalen Brunson on the other. This is how we could summarize the first quarter between the Knicks and the Celtics. The first scored 10 points, the second 13 and it was Boston which took control (26-30). Jaylen Brown clearly imposes his power in this first period. To keep up the pace, Donte DiVincenzo and Bojan Bogdanovic put in the winning shots that feel good.
When the Celtics take a ten-point lead, Brunson is there to respond and keep New York in the race at the break (58-62). Everything gets complicated when the Knicks return from the locker room. Certainly the All-Star leader is still present to respond to Boston, but the waves are much stronger. The 3-pts fall everywhere and, with a 9-0, we arrive at a gap of twenty points. In a few moments, Joe Mazzulla's men made the break (84-97).
Tom Thibodeau's troops obviously don't give up, especially since the Celtics' basketball is less brilliant in the last act, and the 3-point skill has disappeared. But the men in green compensate with a presence on the offensive rebound (eight shots in the quarter) and can thus go 10-0 against the messy Knicks. The Celtics therefore did not tremble, and logically won 116-102 for their eighth victory in a row.
What you must remember
– The Celtics third quarter. Already dominant in the second quarter, Jayson Tatum and his gang totally made the difference in this third act. The long distance baskets fall everywhere (9/13) and there is no waste (72% shooting success and only two lost balls). For the Knicks, it was too much.
– Jalen Brunson alone in the world. Especially since in this strong moment for Boston, only Jalen Brunson had a response to provide, with 13 of his team's 26 points in this quarter. It's a bit of a symbol of the match because the playmaker was good in his duel with Jaylen Brown (34 points for him, 30 for the Celtic player) but, without Julius Randle for example, he lacked support from weight. And as he did not weigh in the final minutes, the Knicks' hopes went with him.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
