Derrick White led the Boston Celtics’ offense with 34 points, including seven three-pointers, in the Game 5 victory against the New York Knicks. The final score was 127-102, keeping the Celtics’ hopes alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Celtics tied the franchise record for playoffs by making 22 three-pointers, achieving their first home win of the series and the first without Jayson Tatum, who suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will keep him out for the season.
The Knicks will look to close out the series on Friday in New York. If the Celtics win, Game 7 would be played in Boston on Monday.
Jaylen Brown contributed 26 points and 12 assists, becoming the first Celtics player to score 25 points and assist on 30 points in a playoff game in the last 30 postseasons.
Luke Kornet had an outstanding performance with 10 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks, in a game where Kristaps Porzingis only played 12 minutes.
The Celtics will try to become the fourteenth team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, in 294 attempts.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 24 points, despite briefly leaving the game in the first quarter due to a cut on his face after an accidental elbow.
Jalen Brunson added 22 points before fouling out with 7:19 remaining in the game.
Boston fell behind by nine points in the first half, but closed the third quarter on a 23-9 run, taking a 91-76 lead entering the final quarter. Brunson was on the bench for the final 2:45 of the third quarter after committing his fifth foul.
The Celtics maintained their intensity in the final period, extending their lead to 28 points.
The game was very physical and there was a brief face-to-face confrontation between Hart and Brown.
That energy carried over to the offense. The Celtics came out strong, with five three-pointers from White and 12 total in the first 24 minutes.
But the Knicks managed to take a nine-point lead, hitting eight three-pointers and scoring 10 second-chance points. Mitchell Robinson also made his four free throws in the first half, negating the intentional foul strategy that Boston had employed against him throughout the series.
At the end of the first half, the score was tied 59-59.
