The Boston Celtics took a crucial step towards advancing in the NBA playoffs, defeating the New York Knicks 115-93 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. This win comes after two lackluster performances at TD Garden, where the Celtics struggled to find their footing.
Key Performers
-
Jaylen Brown: Instrumental in the victory, he delivered a strong defensive performance and contributed key points on offense, finishing with:
- 19 points
- 6 rebounds
- 5 assists
-
Al Horford: Had a standout game with:
- 15 points
- 9 rebounds
-
Derrick White: Continued his efficient play, scoring:
- 17 points
- 5 rebounds
Coach Joe Mazzulla made savvy adjustments throughout the game to keep New York’s momentum at bay.
Knicks Performance
Despite struggling from deep again, Kristaps Porzingis had an effective night offensively for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson has yet to have a breakout performance in this series.
Boston’s victory marked a return to form for the defending champions. Coach Mazzulla stated, "We just tried to play our brand of basketball." By avoiding a potential 0-3 deficit—no team has ever come back from such a hole—Boston now faces an uphill battle, but only two road games remain in this series.
Jaylen Brown’s Journey
In Game 1 of this series against Brooklyn last year (which they won), Jaylen Brown scored just one point through three quarters before finishing with eight total points in overtime.
Brown did not start against Brooklyn but started alongside Jayson Tatum tonight, as he did against Philadelphia last week when he scored eight more than his season average per game.
"I think it’s just about being ready," Brown said about starting tonight versus Brooklyn compared to last year’s playoff opener against Philadelphia when he came off the bench.
"It’s always good when you can get out there early," he added. Brown shot six-for-seven from the field, including three-for-three beyond the arc, while playing nearly all first-quarter minutes against the Knicks. He also scored the first basket by either team both times they met during the regular season and made several big plays defensively down the stretch, including forcing a turnover and securing a loose ball rebound before driving coast-to-coast for a layup late in the third quarter, which gave the Celtics a lead they would never relinquish.
Looking Ahead
The Celtics will look to build on this momentum as they head into Game 3 against New York on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
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