The Knicks looked like they were taking control of the game in the 2nd quarter — up by 8 points — when they got sloppy and then got hit with ticky-tack foul after ticky-tack foul — putting first Karl-Anthony Towns and then Jalen Brunson in foul trouble.
Meanwhile the Celtics upped their aggressiveness in the 2nd half — and the refs “let ’em play” on that side of the court. Then Boston started hitting their 3, and pulled out to a 15-pt at the end of the 3rd, and 20-pt lead early in the 4th that the Knicks could not dent.
The score was tied at the half, but Brunson picked up 3 ticky-tack fouls in just over a minute at the start of the 3rd quarter. It was almost as if the NBA refs wanted him out of the game. Brunson fouled out of the game with 7 minutes left in the 4th.
Jaylen Brown especially was baiting Knicks for fouls, and getting them. On one play he drove into Karl-Anthony Towns, and grabbed Towns’ jersey while falling to the floor as KAT kept his hands to his side. Foul on KAT.
Some fans speculated the NBA wanted to make sure there was at least a Game 6 in this series on Friday night, as there are no other NBA games planned for that day. A game 6 at Madison Square Garden would make a lot of money for all involved, let alone a game 7 in Boston.
This coming only days after the NBA faced allegations from all over of fixing the NBA draft that miraculously gave Dallas — who traded away Luka Doncic this winter — the #1 pick in the draft.
Afterwards however, Tom Thibodeau and the Knick players did not fault the refs — rather they said it was their failure to match Boston’s aggressiveness that caused the loss.
“We didn’t play for 48 minutes,” said coach Thibodeau. “At the start of the 2nd quarter we didn’t play well — we had the lead; we didn’t play tough with the lead. We came out to start the 3rd, didn’t play well there. Can’t afford to do that.”
“They came out with a sense of urgency that we need,” said Brunson afterwards about how Boston came out in the 3rd quarter. About the 5 fouls he picked up in the quarter, Brunson said “I’m not even going to say anything; I’m sorry.”
Game 6 Friday night at Madison Square Garden, NY leading the series 3-2.
1. White & Brown Pick Up for Tatum
Boston was coming off the horrific loss of Jayson Tatum, out for the series and the season after the tear of his achilles at the end of game 5.
Derrick White came out firing 3’s — and hitting 5 (five) 3-pointers in the 1st quarter, plus a drive for 17 points in the period.
Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchett, and Luke Kornet also hit 3’s — and yet the Knicks were still up 32-30 entering the 2nd quarter.
2. Mitch Goes 6-6 in Free Throws!!
Boston deployed Hack-A-Mitch strategy early as soon as Mitchell Robinson came into the game with 3:30 left in the 1st quarter, and Mitch proceeded to go 4-4 from the line in the period.
Mitch was fouled later in the 3rd and went 2-2 to finish 6-6 from the free throw line in the game!
2. Knicks Lead by 8 in 2nd
The Knicks continued to forge ahead in the 2nd quarter — going up by 8 points at 40-32 after a Miles McBride 3.
Josh Hart was hitting his jumper and his 3, and KAT and Mitchell Robinson were having their way inside.
4. Knicks in Foul Trouble
But KAT picked up his 2nd and 3rd foul early in the period on ticky-tack fouls — and had to leave with 9:49 left in the period. He wouldn’t come back until the 3rd.
5. Brown & Boston More Aggressive
Boston amped up their aggressiveness, and got back into the game. Jaylen Brown raised his game — taking it to the basket and hitting 3’s, and playing an aggressive brand of defense on Jalen Brunson.
Al Horford hit a bucket inside and a 3, and then Payton Pritchard started hitting 3’s as Boston tied the game and dueled the Knicks back and forth to the half. The score was 59-59 at intermission.
6. Brunson 3 Fouls in 2 Minutes to Start 3rd
Jaylen Brown was not only being aggressive, he was foul-baiting — driving against KAT or Brunson and looking to draw a foul. Brunson was called for 3 ticky-tack fouls within a 2-minute period to start the 3rd quarter, and had to play carefully.
Brown drew a 4th foul on KAT less than a minute later — with 8:40 left in the 3rd — driving into KAT, grabbing his jersey, and falling down as KAT had his hands at his side. Foul KAT.
Brunson stayed in the game with 3 fouls — but picked up his 4th with 3:17 left in the quarter and his 5th foul with 2:45 left in the quarter, and Boston up 87-76.
7. Boston Takes Command in 3rd
Derrick White hit a 3, then hit 3 free throws after being fouled taking a 3, Payton Pritchard hit a 3, and Sam Houser hit a 3 as Boston took a 14-pt lead in the 3rd quarter.
8. Kornet Destroys Knicks — 7 Blocks
Former Knick 7-footer Luke Kornet rose up to destroy the Knicks with inside play — taking over the game by blocking 4 shots in the 3rd quarter, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting the ball back in, and finishing the period with a Slam to put Boston up by 15, 91-76, entering the 4th.
He continued his inspired play in the 4th — blocking a Josh Hart 3, then alley-oop slamming off a Brown pass for a 25-pt Boston lead — 110-85.
“Luke Kornet was tremendous by simply bringing big time effort, activity, his motor along with running the floor hard,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Active on the glass, challenging everything at the rim on one end and finishing at the rim on other end while taking no play for granted and willing to do more.”
White was hitting 3’s, Brown was hitting 3’s — the game got away from the Knicks.
9. Brunson Fouls Out
To add insult to injury, Brunson fouled out with 7:19 left in the game and NY down by 20. There would be no miraculous Knick comeback in this game.
The Boxscore
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401769750