Knicks takeaways from Thursday’s 120-117 OT win over Celtics in late-game thriller

The Knicks began the evening scoring with a Julius Randle three-pointer simply two days after the southpaw transformed on eight three-point jumpers in Tuesday’s win over Cleveland. The Celtics’ younger duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown proved to be a problem early as they scored Boston’s first 10 factors.

The Knicks referred to as a timeout after an Al Horford three-pointer from the fitting wing to increase Boston’s result in 13-5. Boston began three of 4 from past the arc within the opening 4 minutes of the sport.

Boston discovered quick success via environment friendly perimeter capturing because the crew completed the primary quarter 6-12 from three-point vary.

Randle powered the offense with selection to start the sport with a number of three-point baskets, a one-handed dunk over Al Horford and a robust layup completed via contact in opposition to Grant Williams. His versatility sparked an offensive burst to reply for the Knicks early on.

Regardless of a extremely environment friendly begin for Boston, New York stayed persistent to embark on a 15-6 run to chop the deficit to 28-22 after Tom Thibodeau’s first timeout in a 5 minute stretch.

An RJ Barrett dunk, his second end in transition of the quarter, left the Knicks down eight, 34-26, after the opening 12 minutes.

Randle posted one other spectacular first quarter with 14 factors whereas capturing 60 p.c from the sector to guide New York. Whereas pretty aggressive in most classes on the finish of the quarter, a flurry of offensive rebounds from Boston within the remaining two minutes left New York behind 13-9 on the finish of the primary quarter.

Following the quarter-ending layup from Barrett, New York dashed out to start out the second quarter on a 9-0 run to take the lead 35-34.

The groups proceeded to commerce basketballs over the following three minutes which led to alternatives for New York. Immanuel Quickley persistently obtained open on the fitting wing and located an opportunity to knock down a 3. New York performed opportunistically with complimentary basketball early, changing 5 Boston turnovers into 10 factors to start out the evening. The Knicks continued that momentum right into a 7-0 run right into a timeout with 2:24 remaining within the first half capped by a Quentin Grimes dunk.

Regardless of outsourcing the Celtics 32-26 within the second quarter, Boston completed with a 5-0 run to guide 60-58 at halftime. Quickley led New York with 15 first-half factors. After lacking his first three pictures, Jalen Brunson completed the primary half with 14 factors.

Simply as they did to start the second quarter, the Knicks scored the primary 4 factors of the third quarter. A highlight-reel offensive rebound and dunk from Jericho Sims adopted by an RJ Barrett three-pointer created the most important lead to date for New York at 5, which prolonged to 9 later within the quarter.

New York discovered an space to show halfway via the third quarter because the Knicks outscored the Celtics 38-24 within the paint to that time.

Randle additionally bounced again within the third quarter, dropping a game-tying three after not scoring within the second quarter and added on with a dunk with Jayson Tatum as the first defender later within the quarter. Randle and Brunson surged for 14 factors and 13 factors respectively within the quarter to guide 91-85 after 36 minutes.

Ball motion and second likelihood possessions dominated the early portion of the fourth quarter as an Obi Toppin three-pointer prolonged the result in a game-best 11 factors within the first 4 minutes of the quarter.

The celebrities took over in the midst of the quarter as Julius Randle and Jayson Tatum spent a number of possessions buying and selling pictures. After offensive miscues all through the second half, Boston launched into a 14-4 run to chop the New York result in two.

Lack of ball motion within the remaining two minutes opened the door for a game-tying layup from Jayson Tatum to tie the sport at 110 apiece. Boston couldn’t convert on the buzzer as the sport went to extra time.

Derrick White opened extra time with a three-pointer off of a Jericho Sims offensive foul. New York left factors on the board with missed open pictures and extra offensive rebounds from Boston, however the Celtics couldn’t capitalize. In transition, Jalen Brunson made the additional move to Barrett for a go-ahead three-pointer with 28 seconds remaining. In response for Boston, Jaylen Brown completed a drive via two defenders to regain the lead 117-116.

From that time on, free throws determined the sport. Off of a foul by Robert Williams, Randle knocked down each pictures. Jaylen Brown then proceeded to overlook each free throws earlier than RJ Barrett iced the sport with two profitable free throws. On the ultimate possession, Jalen Brunson blocked a remaining try from Malcolm Brogdon to seal the 120-117 win.

Julius Randle led all scorers with 37 factors and 9 rebounds whereas Jalen Brunson added a further 29 factors. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 35 factors.

New York knocked off the most effective crew within the NBA and improved to 3-4 in extra time on the season whereas night the season sequence with Boston at one sport apiece.