Knicks can compete. Contending is another matter.
After losing three consecutive to the Celtics by Knockout, an average of more than 17 points, the Knicks finally touch the defense champions of the final bell.
However, they still left Madison Square’s garden to the victims of a regular season sweep, observing the most exciting and significant victory of the season passing through their fingers after allowing a game of 3 pastures Taton Taton Taton Taton Taton Tatum Withalaction in extra time.
Although Karl-Anthony Towns put 34 points and 14 rebounds, the old big man of the Knicks, Kristaps porzingis, the toks of the defense of the lax perimeter, scoring 34 points (eight triples), including an tied.
Tatum finished with 32 points.
After the final shot of Porzingis, the Knicks had the opportunity to tie the game, but Mikal Bridges dropped a pass out of the limits.
Jrue Holiday then made four clutch free throws at the close of 12.1 seconds and Jalen Brunson made a triple on the bell to turn it into a two -point defeat.
Upon entering with five victories in their previous six games, the Knicks (50-29) have only one of their last eight against teams above .500 to 12-20 against winning teams this season and have been almost two calendar.
The Knicks have 0-9 against the three best teams in the League, the Celts, Cavaliers and Thunder.
The loss of the Knicks combined with a victory of the Pacers leaves their magic number in one for seed No. 3 in the east, establishing a possible second round confrontation with Boston (59-20), which has won 12 or its 13 games and is locked in no. 2 seeds.
The Knicks seemed aware of the ramifications of a game that would affect their psyche much more than the classification.
Celtics adapt to both a trio of stars: tatum (ankle), Jaylen Brown (knee) and porzingis (disease), listed as questionable.
Towns led the load, scoring 10 of the first 14 points of the Knicks after hitting their first four shots.
Jalen Brunson opened Sharp in his second game of an absence of one month, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and ending with 27 in shooting of 10 by 21.
He thought Boston opened cold since Deep, Tatum put 11 points in the room, keeping the Celtics close, 30-27, after 12 minutes.
It was the first time this season that the Knicks did not follow Boston for two digits after a room.
The Celtics maintained their script from the whole season, one that allowed Boston to reach almost 22 3 3 per game at the previous meeting, while firing better than 45 percent, but the 3 -point shooting team more prolific in the history of the league opened 6 of 24 of 24 beyond the arch, which allows the Knicks to remain in control, behind half of 22 points of the city.
In the part -time, the Knicks had an advantage of 14 rebounds, more than 10 points in the paint, fired 52 percent from the field and hero Brown to two points.
But the 58-52 advantage barely reflected it.
The Celtics needed only 92 seconds to recover the advantage in the second half, with porzingis limiting an 8-0 race from depth.
The Latvian continued to hit the smallest defenders, accumulating 27 points in the middle of the third quarter.
His seventh triple left the crowd with amazement and anxiety, perforated from the logo, 39 feet deep, giving Boston a seven -point advantage.
When Porzingis rested, the Knicks responded, going to a 7-0 race, but the Celtics still finished the third quarter on the top, 83-78, after the Tatum sweater.
A round trip period saw the Knicks throw inside one on a Brunson Fadeaway with only two minutes removing.
After Derrick White lost the 3 open, Og Anunoby returned a Miss Brunson, sending the crowd to celebration spasms.
After a middle -ranking jumper of Bridges, Tatum had the opportunity to tie the game on the line, after the cities committed him in a corner 3, but the superstar of the Celtics lost the final attempt, leaving the Knicks one.
Tatum would compensate for a possession later.
Hart lost the opportunity to win it with a timbre 3. With less than a remaining minute in extra time, the score remained tied.
Then, Porzingis delivered again.
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