NEW YORK — The Celtics bid for back-to-back NBA titles formally is on life help after yet one more second-half nosedive.
Trying to even the Jap Convention semifinals at two video games apiece, the defending champions as an alternative squandered a 14-point third-quarter lead and a standout efficiency from Jayson Tatum in a 121-113 loss to the New York Knicks on Monday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Boston now should win the following three video games — starting with Recreation 5 on Wednesday at TD Backyard — to increase its season. And it would want to take action with out its finest participant.
After racking up 42 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and two blocks, Tatum suffered an ankle damage halfway via the fourth quarter and needed to be helped off the courtroom by Celtics staffers.
Jalen Brunson spearheaded by far the Knicks’ finest offensive outing of the sequence, going off for 38 factors and 12 assists. Fellow New York starters Karl-Anthony Cities, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunuoby all topped 20 factors, as nicely, with Bridges delivering a number of clutch makes to assist the third-seeded Knicks draw back late.
In NBA historical past, groups that fall behind 1-3 in a playoff sequence go on to lose 95.6% of the time. No crew has efficiently accomplished a 1-3 comeback since 2020.
Boston blew third-quarter leads of 20, 20 and 14 factors in its three losses to New York, which now sits only one win away from its first Jap Convention finals look since 2000.
The Celtics acquired off to a different wonderful begin, constructing a double-digit first-quarter lead for the third time on this sequence. Derrick White (23 factors) made his first 4 3-pointers, and Tatum foiled two early Knicks possessions with a block and a steal. The latter led to a fast-break layup that triggered a Tom Thibodeau timeout.
New York briefly stabilized after that stoppage. It took the hosts simply over three minutes to erase Boston’s cushion, with Anunoby hitting a nook three to cap a 13-3 Knicks run. However the Celtics responded with a 14-2 run fueled by extra red-hot perimeter capturing.
Boston scored on its remaining seven possessions of the primary quarter, together with three Tatum 3-pointers (two over Cities, one over Brunson). The Celtics shot 9-for-14 from deep within the opening body and led 39-28.
Disparities within the margins prevented the Celtics from extending that lead, because the Knicks doubled them up in offensive rebounds (8-4), second-chance factors (11-4) and factors within the paint (24-11) within the first half to stay aggressive. Boston was in a position to climate New York’s a number of second-quarter pushes, nevertheless, staging a 12-3 run after a driving layup by Cities made it a four-point recreation.
Tatum ignited that surge with a 3-pointer — a part of a 20-point first half for the Celtics star — and Porzingis helped keep it with two offensive rebounds, a putback tip-in and a steal below Boston’s basket. The Celtics large man upped his exercise Monday night time, enjoying 24 minutes after going sub-20 within the first three video games, however his effectiveness waned because the night time progressed and he appeared to tire.
The Celtics additionally stored Brunson and the remainder of his Knicks teammates off the foul line till the ultimate two minutes of the primary half, trying 15 free throws earlier than New York took its first. They took a 62-51 benefit into halftime.
Tatum sparked one other large sequence early within the third quarter. In a single 77-second span, he threaded a cross to Jrue Vacation for a layup, hit a 3, intercepted an ill-advised Cities cross and located White within the nook for one more triple that put Boston up 14.
However a expensive error by Tatum’s co-star gave New York life. After Brunson made a 3 and a layup on consecutive journeys, Jaylen Brown was whistled for a flagrant foul when he positioned his foot into the Knicks level guard’s touchdown zone on a 3-point try. The Knicks have been awarded three pictures and the ball, leading to a four-point possession that reduce the Celtics’ result in 5.
Even after Boston responded with a White three and a steal-and-score by Tatum, the Knicks stored charging. They steadily chipped away till Brunson’s midrange jumper over White tied the sport at 83-83 with 1:07 left within the third. Anunoby and Josh Hart then closed the quarter with a made three and a fast-break layup to cap a 30-13 run for New York, which led 88-85 heading into the fourth.
Brunson poured in 18 factors within the third quarter. Whereas he heated up, Boston’s offense stagnated, missing the ball motion and circulation that served them nicely earlier within the night time. Tatum missed his remaining 4 field-goal makes an attempt of the third — all pull-up threes — a landed arduous on his injured proper wrist on a drive to the basket.
Each groups entered precarious foul-trouble conditions early within the fourth quarter, with Hart and Brown each selecting up their fifth and Cities committing No. 4. With Brown on the cusp of disqualification, the Celtics opted to roll with a double-big lineup that includes a visibly fatigued Porzingis, who seemed a step sluggish on each ends.
Tatum did his finest to energy the Celtics with two threes and an and-one layup.
