Knicks completely outclassed by Celtics again in another ugly beatdown
The Knicks and the Celtics could not have seemed more separated when they met in Boston to open the season.After the Celtics received their championship rings that October night, they buried the retooled Knicks under a record-tying avalanche of 29 made 3-pointers.More than half a season later, the improved Knicks were unable to exact any payback — or pull even in the loss column with the second-seeded Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings — Saturday night with a sloppy, deflating 131-104 loss to Boston before a disappointed crowd at the Garden.Jalen Brunson scored a team-best 36 points, but the Knicks fell to 34-18 overall, with forward OG Anunoby missing his third straight game due to a sprained right foot.Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, who both had landed on the injury report before the game with nagging knee issues, and fellow starter Mikal Bridges, had largely ineffective games as the Knicks were outrebounded 28-18 in the first half and a whopping 48-30 overall.Towns managed a season-low nine points on 3-for-8 shooting in 28 minutes, while Hart finished minus-31 with three turnovers in 38 minutes.Unstoppable All-Star Jayson Tatum buried seven 3-pointers and netted a game-high 40 points, while Payton Pritchard contributed 25 off the bench for the Celtics (37-16), who played without starters Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Jrue Holiday (shoulder).“They’re a tough matchup.They’re the defending champion,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“They’re strong on both sides of the ball.They can spread you out.
They can attack you off the dribble.They share the ball.
You have to be very disciplined.You have to be able to make a second and third effort and be tied together, and sometimes they have the ability to make tough shots, and you’ve got to do it time and time again.“Obviously, the Celtics have a rich history.
The battles have been tough over the years.We know what it means to a lot of people.”Opening Night meant a little extra for...