Boston Celtics Refocus and Throttle New York Knicks to Stay Alive in Playoffs
The Boston Celtics were dealt a devastating blow on Tuesday, when it was confirmed that star player Jayson Tatum had suffered a torn right Achilles tendon in the previous night’s game against the New York Knicks. According to ESPN, the news sent a somber mood through the team’s meeting on Wednesday, as they prepared for an unexpected elimination game.
In the meeting, Celtics star Jaylen Brown described the atmosphere as subdued, saying: "The air kind of left the room after hearing the news. We didn’t want to go out like that. We didn’t want to make no excuses. We didn’t want to come out and give up or just turn the season into what everybody else probably would expect." ESPN reported that, in an effort to refocus, coach Joe Mazzulla, Brown, and veteran Al Horford addressed the team, delivering a message that blended empathy and strategy.
The Celtics players were understandably hurt by the news, but they knew they couldn’t afford to dwell on it. As ESPN noted, Tatum later sent a text message to his teammates, assuring them that he was okay. The team’s strategy was to lean heavily on defense to compensate for the loss of their star player. The result was their best defensive performance of the series, as they limited the Knicks to 36% shooting and 26 points in the paint, en route to a 127-102 victory.
The win cuts the series lead to 3-2, forcing a Game 6 on Friday back in New York. According to ESPN, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla made a crucial decision in starting Kristaps Porzingis at center, but the Latvian big man was struggling with an upper respiratory illness and was ineffective in the first half. Mazzulla opted to bring in backup Luke Kornet, who made a significant impact, blocking five shots and grabbing five rebounds in the third quarter.
Kornet’s presence changed the flow of the game, and he finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 blocks. As ESPN reported, Boston outscored the Knicks by 20 points in Kornet’s 26 minutes on the floor. The Celtics’ defensive intensity was impressive, with 12 blocks as a team.
Jaylen Brown took on additional ballhandling duties in Tatum’s absence, and he responded with a career-high 12 assists, alongside 26 points and 8 rebounds. Derrick White also had a standout game, making 7 of 13 3-pointers for 34 points. As ESPN noted, the Celtics’ movement and ball movement improved without Tatum’s isolation plays, leaving the Knicks struggling to keep up.
The Celtics got to the foul line 40 times, 18 of those in the third quarter, as the Knicks grew frustrated with the officiating. Brown reflected on his role, saying: "The goal is to just lead and to just be myself. I’ve always preached team. I’ve done whatever to kind of push this team forward. So whatever is needed in me, I’m excited to be able to facilitate or whatever role." With this win, the Celtics have kept their season alive, and they will look to push the series to a deciding Game 7 on Friday.
