Celtics fight hard, but rough 2nd quarter dooms them in 105-95 loss to Knicks

The Celtics fought really hard to get back into the game after losing the 2nd quarter by 28 points. However, they just were not able to overcome it as the Knicks beat them 105-95.

Josh Hart returned to the Knicks lineup after missing their win on Wednesday against the Cavaliers. He did not start as New York started Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Celtics it was the same starting 5 as in their loss to the 76ers: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta. Luka Garza missed the game for the Celtics with a concussion while Mitchell Robinson remained out of the Knicks lineup.

Mazzulla pulled out the hockey subs for the first substitutions of the game. We saw Anfernee Simons, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman Sr. check in to the game.

The Celtics came out firing and the Knicks struggled in the first quarter, with Boston leading 30-22 after twelve minutes. Brown led the team in scoring with 8 points while Queta, Simons and Tillman all chipped in with 5 points.

A four-point play from Jaylen punctuated the quarter for the Celtics.

Boston wasn’t great to start the game from three in the first and the beginning of the second quarter, shooting 4/13, 31%. They went stale at the start the 2nd quarter, missing their first 6 shots.

Then, New York put together a 17-0 run to flip the game.

The 2nd quarter was ugly for Boston; they were outscored by 42-14 in the period and the game was flipped from an 8-point Celtics lead to a 20-point deficit at halftime.

It was insanely ugly quarter for the Celtics. Rebounding was the main difference. The Knicks had 33 first half rebounds, compared to the Celtics 23. Including 12 offensive rebounds for the Knicks.

The Celtics came out of the locker room strong with an 8-0 run led by Sam Hauser, who scored 6 points off of a pair of threes. However, the Knicks answered quickly and ballooned the 12-point lead back to 24 quickly.

Hugo Gonzalez had one play where he did a nice job turning the corner and finished with his left hand.

I enjoyed the way Hugo played throughout the game. He had 6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals and was very active. I think Joe Mazzulla will be able to find him more minutes this season.

The Celtics closed the 3rd quarter down 17, 82-65. Brown and Hauser led the team in scoring with 15 points each through three quarters.

The Celtics kept chipping away in the fourth. A lot of it was because their defense, but they couldn’t get a shot to fall on offense. Derrick White and Payton Pritchard were a combined 4/22 from the field and 2/15 from three until White hit a corner three to get Boston within 10.

The Celtics tried their best to make a run and get back into the game, but they just couldn’t do it as they lost the game to one of the Eastern Conference contenders this season.

Offensive rebounds and a brutal 2nd quarter are what doomed the Celtics. If they are going to be a better team than many people are expecting them to be, they need to rebound better. You cannot give up 21 offensive rebounds and expect to win. The Celtics shot 43% from the field and 34% from three while the Knicks shot 38% from the field and 38% from three.

Boston’s next game is in Detroit on Sunday at 3:30 EST.