Their assembly with the New York Knicks on Sunday night time will present the Boston Celtics with a twin bounce-back alternative. First, the Celtics will probably be seeking to rebound after blowing a 28-point lead and shedding to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night time. Brooklyn’s comeback was the most important of the whole NBA season, and clearly not the best second for the Celtics, who had been booed off of the ground within the L. Boston may even be seeking to bounce again after shedding to the Knicks 109-94 earlier this week.
The Celtics have truly misplaced two straight video games to New York, together with a 120-117 time beyond regulation loss in late January, and exacting their revenge will not be a simple activity, because the Knicks have not too long ago began to resemble a legit playoff staff. They’ve gained eight straight video games heading into Sunday night time and have climbed as much as fifth within the Eastern Conference standings within the course of.
“I really feel like proper now we’re clicking on all cylinders,” Knicks guard Quentin Grimes mentioned of the staff not too long ago. “Everybody is enjoying unselfish and enjoying for each other.”
Tom Thibodeau’s groups are sometimes identified for his or her defensive prowess, nevertheless it’s been on the offensive finish the place the Knicks have been particular this season. They have the third’s third-best offense on the season, and the highest general offense over the previous two weeks, per Cleaning the Glass. They completed within the backside third within the league in that class final season.
The offseason addition of Jalen Brunson has clearly been an unlimited issue there. While some questioned if the Knicks overpaid for Brunson previous to the beginning of the season, he appears to have made it a mission to show that they did not. Over the previous 15 video games, Brunson is averaging practically 29 factors per efficiency whereas including shut to 6 assists and taking pictures properly over 50 p.c from the sphere. His influence on the offense is clear to everybody, together with his teammates.
“It’s simply nice,” Randle mentioned not too long ago of enjoying with Brunson. “It makes the sport simpler for all of us. He’s making performs and being environment friendly, and we’re profitable.”
While Brunson and Randle have led the way in which, New York’s success this season is the results of a large number of contributors. Immanuel Quickley has supplied dependable, constant manufacturing off of the bench, and R.J. Barrett has been an honest, albeit considerably inconsistent, third possibility. Also, after lacking over a month of motion following thumb surgical procedure, Mitchell Robinson has posted 4 straight double-doubles.
Josh Hart, who the Knicks traded for previous to the commerce deadline, has additionally made a optimistic two-way influence. He’s averaged over 12 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists per efficiency. New York’s present profitable streak additionally occurs to coincide with Hart’s arrival, as he is 8-0 as a Knick. The Celtics will probably be seeking to forestall him from attending to 9-0.
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In order to do this, Boston must shoot the ball a bit higher. In their most up-to-date loss to New York, the Celtics shot simply 9-of-42 (21 p.c) from lengthy vary. That’s not going to get the job performed.
“Watching that recreation was robust,” mentioned Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown, who missed the sport because of private causes. “… I believe we began off the sport taking pictures manner too many threes.”
The assembly between the 2 groups is the fourth and last of the common season. If the Knicks win, they’re going to declare the season collection 3-1, whereas a Boston win will even it up at two video games apiece. Boston bested New York within the first assembly between the groups in early November.
The matchup is also a possible playoff preview. It appears considerably unlikely that the groups will meet within the first spherical, however relying on how seeding shakes out, they may face off in opposition to one another in the event that they’re each capable of advance.
After holding down the highest spot within the Eastern Conference standings for a lot of the season, the Celtics have not too long ago slipped to second — a recreation behind the Milwaukee Bucks. Similarly, the Knicks at the moment are only a single recreation behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the fourth spot, so each groups will probably be preventing for seeding after they sq. off Sunday night time. As a consequence, each squads needs to be motivated and roaring to go.
