Madison Sq. Backyard buzzed with anticipation, hearts warmed by nostalgia. One of many Knicks’ personal had been immortalized.
Recent off his induction as a first-ballot member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame, Carmelo Anthony was honored by a sellout Backyard crowd on Tuesday night time. A tribute video pulsed on the Jumbotron, flashing his best moments in orange and blue. The digicam minimize to Melo, seated courtside. He stood, waved, and the ovation swelled right into a roar.
It was presupposed to be a celebration. An evening for one legend to soak in his flowers — and for the present Knicks, lastly complete for the primary time all season, to indicate they belonged among the many league’s elite.
Then Kristaps Porzingis rewrote the script.
As soon as the inheritor to Anthony’s throne in New York, Porzingis is now a key piece of a Celtics crew that has owned the Knicks all season. Tuesday was presupposed to be completely different — a shot at redemption. As an alternative, it grew to become the newest chapter in Porzingis’ private revenge tour towards the franchise that drafted him, then traded him away.
And he delivered.
Porzingis poured in 34 factors on 11-of-19 capturing, drilling 8-of-13 from behind the arc — essentially the most threes he’s ever hit in a sport towards the Knicks — and hit the dagger from close to the brand in extra time to present Boston a 115-112 lead with underneath 40 seconds to go. The Celtics escaped with a 119-117 win, their fourth over New York this season to finish the sweep.
“Well they’ve got guys that can go off the dribble,” head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned forward of tipoff on Tuesday. “Porzingis can spread you out. They make the extra pass. It requires you to contain dribble penetration. And then read the ball, and then you gotta fly out, challenge the ball. The rebounding is also a huge factor.”
The Knicks had each motive to consider this one would possibly go their means. They have been aggressive from the soar, main after the primary quarter for the primary time all season towards Boston. Karl-Anthony Cities punished the Celtics’ smaller entrance line and completed with 34 factors and 14 rebounds. Jalen Brunson seemed sharp in his second sport again from damage, notching 27 factors and 9 assists. All 5 Knicks starters scored in double figures.
However when Porzingis acquired going, New York couldn’t cease the bleeding.
He scored 12 within the second quarter and one other 13 within the third, erasing the Knicks’ early lead with a barrage of threes that uncovered a well-known flaw: New York’s struggles guarding stretch bigs who can pop past the arc.
The Celtics tied it late in regulation on a sequence of dagger performs from Jayson Tatum, who completed with 32 factors, together with a cold-blooded step-back three over OG Anunoby with underneath 20 seconds to play. Josh Hart missed a fading baseline jumper on the buzzer that will’ve gained it.
In extra time, Porzingis reemerged — drilling a near-logo three with Brunson trailing to place Boston up for good.
The loss stung extra as a result of it got here on an evening when the Backyard had one thing to have a good time. Anthony’s legacy was entrance and heart. His understudy — as soon as booed as his alternative — stole the highlight.
Mikal Bridges added 14 factors however dedicated a pricey turnover in extra time. Anunoby’s sizzling streak ended abruptly with simply 11 factors and an 0-for-5 mark from downtown — his first sport with out a made three since Jan. 20.
The loss stored the Knicks from clinching the No. 3 seed within the East. With the Pacers beating the Wizards on Tuesday, New York’s lead is down to 2 video games with three to play.
Subsequent up: A visit to Detroit for a sport towards the Pistons — the crew they might face within the first spherical. It’s not fairly win-or-go-home but, however the stress is constructing.
And on Tuesday night time, the Celtics — and one acquainted face — reminded the Knicks precisely what sort of problem awaits in Spherical 2.
