New York Knicks take a 3-1 collection lead after successful Sport 4 in opposition to the reigning NBA champions Boston Celtics, who misplaced Jayson Tatum to damage.
Jalen Brunson scored 26 of his 39 factors within the second half, and the New York Knicks grew to become the primary residence group to win within the collection by defeating the Boston Celtics 121-113 to take a 3-1 collection lead of their Jap Convention second-round matchup.
Karl-Anthony Cities added 23 factors and 11 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges additionally scored 23 for the Knicks, who recovered from a 14-point third-quarter deficit on Monday night time. OG Anunoby made some key performs late whereas contributing 20 factors.
“They hit us early, and clearly we received right into a gap,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “I really like the best way we fought again, and we confirmed numerous toughness and extra self-discipline within the second half and well timed performs. All people labored collectively on each ends of the ground.”
Boston star Jayson Tatum sustained a potential severe proper ankle damage late within the contest. Tatum had 42 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. He knocked down seven 3-pointers for the second-seeded Celtics, who squandered 20-point leads whereas dropping the primary two video games within the collection.
Tatum was helped off the ground along with his proper foot saved within the air and was later seen being pushed to the locker room whereas sitting in a rolling chair.
“I received again there, talked to the medical employees, they usually instructed me it’s a lower-body damage for Jayson Tatum and we’ll get an MRI within the morning,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla mentioned.
Derrick White made six 3-pointers and scored 23 factors, and Jaylen Brown added 20 factors and 7 rebounds for Boston. Payton Pritchard added 12 factors off the bench.
The Knicks can clinch the best-of-seven collection with a win in Sport 5 at Boston on Wednesday night time.
“It’s not like we deliberate to be on this state of affairs,” White mentioned. “However we’re the place we’re. We’ve to discover a option to win Sport 5.”
Third-quarter explosion lifts Wolves over Warriors
Within the different playoff recreation on Monday, Anthony Edwards poured 11 of his 30 factors right into a 17-0 third-quarter flurry because the Minnesota Timberwolves moved inside one win of a second consecutive berth within the Western Convention finals with a 117-110 street win over the Golden State Warriors in Sport 4 in San Francisco.
Julius Randle led the best way with 31 factors and Jaden McDaniels contributed 10 factors and 13 rebounds for the sixth-seeded Timberwolves, who’ve rallied from a series-opening loss to win three straight from the Stephen Curry-less Warriors.
Minnesota might clinch the best-of-seven collection in Sport 5 on Wednesday in Minneapolis.
Jonathan Kuminga had a team-high 23 factors for seventh-seeded Golden State, which misplaced Curry to a hamstring damage throughout its Sport 1 win.
The Warriors beforehand introduced that their standout level guard could be re-evaluated earlier than Sport 5, with the opportunity of Curry returning at that time.
Golden State held a 60-58 halftime lead, and the sport was tied 68-all within the fourth minute of the third interval earlier than Edwards turned a floater right into a three-point play to ignite the decisive run.
Edwards additionally buried a pair of 3-pointers and a brief jumper amongst his 11 factors, whereas Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo drilled pictures from deep as a part of a burst that lasted greater than 4 minutes.
Edwards completed 6-for-11 on 3-point makes an attempt and Randle 4-for-8, serving to the Timberwolves outscore the Warriors 48-24 from past the arc. Minnesota shot 16-for-34 (47.1 p.c) from past the arc, whereas the Warriors had been 8-for-27 (29.6 p.c).
“The large third quarter was enormous,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch mentioned. “I believed we got here out at halftime with the kind of focus and depth and goal on offence and a focus to element on defence is what we would have liked from the beginning. However for probably the most half, I believed we had been fortunate to be simply down a bucket at halftime.
“[Edwards] was one of many guys that was most vocal at half time and realised what was occurring on the market and we would have liked to be higher. It began with him, actually, and setting the tone.”
Jimmy Butler III took simply 9 pictures and totalled 14 factors with a team-high-tying three assists for the Warriors. Draymond Inexperienced additionally had 14 factors to go along with seven rebounds, whereas Buddy Hield scored 13 and Brandin Podziemski had 11 to enhance 4 steals.
“[The Timberwolves] performed an incredible recreation and clearly took it to us, and we’ve received to bounce again,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned. “We’ve received a flight to Minneapolis tomorrow and an opportunity to increase the collection, and that’s the plan.”
