BOSTON – The streak is so sturdy it survived with out Jalen Brunson.
Against an Eastern Conference elite and with an injured Brunson in avenue garments, Immanuel Quickley took the reins because the Knicks remained the NBA’s hottest workforce with one other thriller, a 131-129 victory in double extra time Sunday night time. Quickley was the hero and the Energizer Bunny, scoring a profession excessive 38 factors – together with seven within the second extra time – whereas dancing his means by means of 55 minutes and animated celebrations.
Not probably the most boisterous of personalities, coach Tom Thibodeau gave a thumbs as much as Quickley’s dancing celebrations as a result of the Knicks had been winners.
Again.
“Winning is way more fun than fun is fun,” Thibodeau stated.
The Knicks (38-27) have gained 9 in a row, the longest streak within the league. They additionally gained three of their 4 matchups this season towards the Celtics (45-20), sending a message Sunday night time on nationwide television.
“We’re here,” stated middle Mitchell Robinson, who performed 44 minutes with 14 rebounds. “Trying to make something happen.”
Julius Randle added 31 factors within the rollercoaster of the sport. At completely different essential factors, it was gained and misplaced, then gained and misplaced — till the Knicks gained it for good when Al Horford’s potential game-winning 3-pointer clanged off the rim on the last buzzer.
Randle, who pregame talked up his need to play each recreation, joked that he’s contemplating load administration after his 50 minutes in Boston.
“F—,” Randle stated. “I’m contemplating it now.”
The recreation was prolonged as a result of the Knicks completely flubbed the tip of regulation. They led by 7 with 1:23 remaining however squandered possessions and rebounds. Quentin Grimes even fouled Jaylen Brown on the tying shot with 12.9 seconds remaining. It was an and-1 conversion from Brown that meant the Knicks would go into OT for the second time this season at TD Garden.
But the guests continued to struggle. They continued to make clutch pictures and clutch baskets, even with out their level guard. Just like in Miami two days prior when Julius Randle hit an off-balance game-winner, they snatched victory from possible defeat.
“It is huge,” Randle stated.”I begin with myself. Too many turnovers. I received to get higher at that. And actually I didn’t play nice. Could’ve rebounded higher. I received to start out selecting up my rebounding and rebound higher. But we discovered a option to come out with two wins on this street journey.”
The first additional interval was highlighted by a tying runner within the lane by Quickley with 12.9 seconds left. Tatum, who completed with 40 factors, bricked the winner on a contested lay-up on the buzzer. The Celtics shot simply 39% on the night time.
It appeared the Knicks had been unraveling early within the third quarter. Randle was pissed off by a flop from Marcus Smart and shoulder-bumped the referee, drawing his seventh technical of the season. The Knicks trailed by 14 at that time.
But then New York took management with a 30-7 run between the third and fourth quarters, a stretch keyed by Quickley and his dancing strikes.
“It gives me life,” Randle stated. “It provides me vitality.
Brunson was dominated out earlier than the sport due to a sore left foot, the purpose guard’s first absence since December.
According to Thibodeau, Brunson awakened Sunday morning with ache – two days after he logged 35 minutes in a victory over the Heat. The coach claimed he was unaware if Brunson underwent an MRI.
“They’ll reevaluate him (Monday), the medical people,” Thibodeau stated.
Brunson had turned his proper ankle in Friday night time’s recreation towards Miami and obtained therapy within the locker room. The Knicks, who declined to make Brunson out there to the media, claimed the newest damage is unrelated.
It was a wierd timeline since Brunson wasn’t listed on Saturday’s damage report.
“They’re looking at it. Hopefully — I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Thibodeau stated. “He just woke up with soreness. So we want to make sure he’s good.”
The Knicks began Quickley and gave the backup level guard minutes to Miles McBride, who performed simply eight minutes.
The Knicks began effectively sufficient with out Brunson however malfunctioned on the finish of the primary half, which the Celtics completed on an 11-0 to take a 61-54 lead on the break. The turning level was a questionable foul name on Mitchell Robinson, which despatched him to the bench along with his third private.
Thibodeau went small and the Knicks had been killed on the glass. They gave up 11 offensive rebounds within the first half with 18 second-chance factors for Boston.
The Knicks pounded the Celtics lower than per week prior at MSG, the place Tatum was pissed off right into a fourth-quarter ejection after scoring simply 14 factors.
Josh Hart, who was a most important defender on Tatum in each matchups, knew the MVP candidate would return motivated.
“Got to know there’s games where you play well defensively and guys make shots. And then there are times when he misses shots,” Hart stated. “I think what we did possibly frustrated him but he’s a good player and felt like he missed some shots he should’ve made and that’s the difference between scoring 30 and 13. He’s going to be aggressive tonight as we know. And we got to make sure we contain it.”
Tatum was aggressive however inefficient Sunday whereas lacking 11 of his 17 3-pointers. The Knicks, as they’ve all through their successful streak, took benefit.
“I think that’s kind of who we are, just that spirit, that fighting spirit,” stated RJ Barrett, who added 29 factors in 50 minutes. “That’s what we preach. Everybody that comes into the game has that. There were plenty of ups and downs but we were able to close it out in the end.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com