Boston Celtics stagnate towards New York Knicks, lose 109-94

There’s no margin for error within the Japanese Convention this 12 months, it appears. The Boston Celtics, recent off an exciting last-second win over the rival Philadelphia 76ers, have discovered themselves in a dogfight for the highest spot within the East towards the Milwaukee Bucks, winners of 14 straight video games. Seeking to grasp onto their half-game lead within the convention, the Celtics took the court docket on Monday night time towards one of many NBA’s shock playoff contenders, the New York Knicks.

Sadly, that place is now in jeopardy. The Knicks are on a streak of their very own, because it occurs. Winners of 5 consecutive video games getting into play, New York pushed their streak to 6, handing the Celtics their 18th loss, 109-94, and falling ever so barely behind the Bucks, percentage-wise, for one of the best file within the NBA.

Malcolm Brogdon was tonight’s scoring chief for the Celtics, recording 22 factors on 10-of-16 taking pictures on the night. However whereas Brogdon excelled, a lot of the Celtics’ roster struggled, together with one more dud of a scoring efficiency from Jayson Tatum (14 factors, 6-of-18). For New York, it was robust performances from All-Star Julius Randle and teen Immanuel Quickley (23 factors every) that powered their assault.

With Jaylen Brown absent this night for private causes, the Celtics’ offense was, put frankly, fairly dire. This was one in every of their weakest offensive begins of the season; they shot simply 33% from the sector en route to fifteen factors within the first quarter, coughing up 4 turnovers. In an apt abstract of the primary half, Grant Williams hit a nook three late within the first quarter, solely to see it waved off as a result of a journey name. The Celtics rapidly handed New York a double-digit lead, 27-15, headed into the second.

Two elements sat clearly on the core of Boston’s early scoring woes: a slumping Tatum and a parade of missed jumpers. Tatum began the sport taking pictures simply 1-of-6 from the sector, and after Horford opened the sport’s scoring with a three-pointer, they proceeded to overlook their subsequent 16 straight. It was a dropping mixture. The Knicks stormed their lead forward as excessive as 20 factors, and solely the play of Sensible (11 first half factors and the crew’s second made three of the sport) saved it comparatively shut. The New York lead sat at 14 getting into the half, 60-46.

The Celtics lastly managed to pry the lid off the online as play started within the third quarter, greater than doubling their three-point whole for the sport by discovering paydirt on 5 makes an attempt from vary. The issue was that, even because the offense improved, the Celtics nonetheless solely managed to attract even with the Knicks. New York had a counterpunch for all the things the Celtics dished at them within the third — at the same time as a highlight-reel block by Sensible appeared to swing momentum Boston’s approach — and after Tatum was whistled for a (pretty weak) technical foul, the Celtics gained only a single level on the Knicks within the third quarter. They entered the ultimate body trailing 88-75.

Progress continued to be incremental for the Celtics because the fourth quarter start. They nickel-and-dimed themselves again to only a 10-point deficit within the early minutes, buoyed by robust minutes from deadline acquisition Mike Muscala. Finally, although, it felt just like the 10-12 level margin was insurmountable. Each problem was met with a Knicks response, and the clock finally ticked to zero with none vital change. Tatum was ejected after choosing up his second technical with just below 4 minutes to play, and that was successfully ended the night time for the Celtics.

Subsequent up, the Celtics will return dwelling for the primary of three straight nationally televised video games, taking the court docket for a high-profile Japanese Convention matchup towards Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 PM EST on ESPN.