The Knicks faced off against the Celtics in a hostile environment and were missing star player Jalen Brunson. The Celtics had something to prove after being humiliated by the Nets two nights prior. However, the Knicks outlasted the Celtics in double-overtime with a final score of 131-129.
The aftermath was a sweet sight for New York sports fans as the arena evacuated with angry Celtics fans asking, “Who are those guys?” The Knicks have now won nine games in a row, including a weekend road trip through Miami and Boston, without Brunson.
Immanuel Quickley played a huge role, replacing Brunson in the starting lineup and scoring a career-high 38 points, sending the game into a second overtime and scoring the Knicks’ first five points in the second one.
Julius Randle had 31 points, RJ Barrett had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and Mitch Robinson had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Robinson’s final play of the game was a crucial distraction for Al Horford, whose shot was short, allowing Josh Hart to grab the rebound. The buzzer groaned, and the TD Garden grew instantly silent, except for the gleeful celebration of the Knicks on the floor and on the bench.
The Knicks spotted the Celtics a 14-point lead in the third quarter but came roaring back to seize an 11-point lead in the fourth. They blew the game at the end of regulation but redeemed themselves by taking it back in overtime and finally closing out the game. It was their 39th win of the season and their 12th win in 14 games, a stretch that includes wins over top teams like the Celtics, Nets, and Heat.
The Knicks are no longer a cute story; they’re a legit team. Quickley said, “You can’t ask for more,” but maybe Celtics fans would disagree after losing the season series 3-1 to the Knicks.
»Kicks defeats Celtics in a grandstyle«
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