Brunson Big In Game 4
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
The New York Knicks felt really good about themselves after taking the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on the road against the Boston Celtics. They trailed in both games by as many as 20 points. Still, they had the resolve to rally, stealing both games. Boston didn’t help themselves as they missed 45 3-pointers in game 1 and 30 in game 2. But just as they done in the previous series against the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks could not advantage of their home court losing game 3 last Saturday 115-93 as Boston found their range from downtown connecting on 20 of 40 3-pointers. New York looked to take a commanding 3-1 series lead this past Tuesday night while Boston looked to even the series before going home for game 5 Wednesday night.
Before the sold out, frenzied crowd could get behind the Knicks, Boston took a 13-4 lead forcing New York’s head coach Tom Thibodeau to call a timeout with 8:38 left in the first quarter. Celtics guard Derrick White nailing his first 3, 3-point attempts. The Knicks joined the 3-point party as Mikel Bridges and Jalen Brunson drained 1 each with the last one giving them their first lead of the night at 17-16. The teams would trade baskets with the Knicks taking 1-point 28-27. Then, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum exploded, hitting his next 3 trifectas with guard Payton Pritchard adding another giving Boston 39-28 first quarter lead.
In taking a 62-51 halftime lead, Boston was led by Tatum’s 20 with White adding 17. The Celtics shot 54% from the floor and 50% from deep. Brunson scored 13 with Karl-Anthony chipping in 10. New York converted 43% from the floor but missed 15 of 22 3-point attempts from downtown. You can rest assured that Thibodeau read them the riot act at halftime.
Whatever that message was, it resonated, as the Knicks outscored the Celtics 37-23 with captain Brunson exploding for 18 points (31 for the game) on 7 of 9 shooting and 2, 3 pointers as they took an 88-85 third quarter lead. The Knicks were 12 minutes away from taking a 3-1 series lead.
The teams would go back and forth in the deciding quarter with no lead bigger than 5 points. Tatum’s 2-pointer tied the game 96 8.22 left. The Knicks took over from there going on a 20-8 run and a 116-104 lead essentially putting the game away. With 2:58 left, Tatum tries to recover a loose ball and twist his right ankle. Writhing in pain, he is helped off court and didn’t return.
The Knicks rebounded with the 121-113 win and now look to close out Boston and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night. If they lose, game 6 will be at Madison Square Garden Friday night.
Brunson finished with 39 points with Towns and Bridges adding 23 each. Before his injury, Tatum finished with 42.
Said Brunson of the comeback win, “it means a lot, big game for us,” he began. Just the way responded l’m most proud of. Stick together and just making sure we’re not quitting.”
The New York Knicks have not been the Conference Finals in 25 years.
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