The Knicks’ second-round slugfest with the Boston Celtics options a person battle between two of the NBA’s greatest.
Celtics stopper Jrue Vacation, a six-time All-Defensive choice, has primarily been matched up in opposition to the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson, who entered Monday as this postseason’s second-leading scorer.
Going into Sport 4, Brunson was averaging collection highs with 24.3 factors and 6.3 assists per sport, and he had already led a pair of second-half comebacks. However Brunson’s 38.1% field-goal proportion was about 10 factors decrease than his regular-season price.
“I think we’ve done alright,” Vacation, talking on the Celtics’ Sport 4 shootaround, stated of Boston’s protection in opposition to Brunson.
“I definitely think it’s a team effort. Everybody’s kind of had a chance to guard him here and there and done a good job, I think. Sometimes in the first two games, in the fourth [quarter], he does what he does, but I think we’ve been taking care of it as good as possible.”
In Video games 1 via 3, Brunson shot 5-of-18 (27.8%) when guarded by Vacation, in line with the NBA’s head-to-head monitoring.
Brunson shot 3-of-9 (33.3%) in opposition to Derrick White and went 6-of-18 (33.3%) in opposition to veteran heart Al Horford, who was incessantly tasked with slowing the Knicks level guard on switches. Brunson was extra environment friendly in opposition to Payton Pritchard, in opposition to whom he made 5-of-9 (55.6%) discipline targets.
The Celtics had restricted Brunson to six.0 free throw makes an attempt per sport — down from the 9.0 he averaged within the Knicks’ first-round collection in opposition to the Detroit Pistons. Brunson averaged 31.5 factors per sport in opposition to Detroit.
“He does a great job at drawing fouls,” Vacation stated. “Try to keep him off the free-throw line as much as possible. And then show him multiple bodies. Obviously, [with him] being a smaller guard, I think seeing multiple bodies and trying to corral him — maybe even seeing two or three guys — hopefully we can turn the ball over and then we get out in transition.”
Nonetheless, Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Participant of the Yr, got here up clutch in Video games 1 and a couple of in Boston.
In Sport 1, Brunson scored 11 of his game-high 29 factors within the fourth quarter to assist the Knicks overcome a 20-point deficit and win 108-105 in time beyond regulation. Throughout that comeback, Brunson drilled a pair of 3-pointers over Horford after screens compelled Vacation off of him.
Brunson was equally efficient down the stretch of Sport 2, scoring 9 of his 17 factors within the fourth quarter because the Knicks once more erased a 20-point deficit and received 91-90.
“He’s at his best when his best is needed,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau stated earlier than Sport 3. “He’s gonna shoot his shots. He shoots them well. He’s always balanced. Some go in and out. He prepares himself well for all these moments.”
Brunson led the Knicks with 27 factors on 9-of-21 capturing of their 115-93 loss in Sport 3 at Madison Sq. Backyard.
HOLIDAY’S HAMMY
Vacation’s hamstring is holding up simply wonderful.
That’s in line with the Celtics guard himself, who stated he “feels good” after a proper hamstring pressure saved him out of the ultimate three video games in Boston’s first-round collection in opposition to the Orlando Magic.
“Feels good,” Vacation stated. “Feels healthy. Haven’t had any issues.”
Vacation averaged 32.7 minutes per sport — a tick above his regular-season common of 30.6 — in Video games 1 via 3 in opposition to the Knicks and began all three.
