Celtics Respond Forcefully in New York
New York – The Boston Celtics demonstrated their ability to react in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, achieving a convincing 115-93 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.The Boston team displayed remarkable efficiency from the three-point line, silencing the home crowd.
Jayson Tatum, with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Payton Pritchard, with 23 points, led the Celtics’ offense. Both players scored five three-pointers each, contributing to a total of 20 three-pointers out of 40 attempts for Boston, regaining their effectiveness after an irregular start to the series.
The Celtics, facing the pressure of avoiding an 0-3 deficit in the series, started the game with great momentum, making six of their first seven three-pointers and dominating the first quarter with a score of 36-20. This initial lead extended to 31 points, a distance the Knicks failed to overcome.
You have to beat us four times, not two. This is just beginning.
Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown added 19 points to the scoreboard.
On the Knicks’ side, Karl-Anthony Towns had an outstanding performance with a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 27 points. However, the New York offense struggled from the perimeter, with only 5 of 25 three-pointers, and also missed free throws, including 4 of 12 from Mitchell Robinson, who was the subject of intentional fouls by Boston.
The Celtics, who had swept the Knicks in the regular season, will look to tie the series in the fourth game, which will also be played in New York, before returning to the TD Garden for the fifth game on Wednesday.
With this victory, Boston revitalizes its aspirations to advance to the NBA Finals, keeping the competition for the championship alive. The series is 2-1 in favor of the Knicks, but the intensity of the competition is just beginning.
