Frustrated throughout the game, RJ Barrett came alive just in timing as New York Knicks secured an upset victory over the league’s top Boston Celtics, 120-117, in overtime in Boston on the road.
Barrett missed the decisive corner shot with 29.1 seconds remaining. Then, the Knicks finally got the free throws that mattered when they were needed.
Julius Randle and Barrett went 4-4 at the lines during the last 21.2 seconds to beat the Celtics.
On the other hand, Boston’s superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown fell over.
Brown misses two free shots in the final 7.6 seconds remaining in overtime. After being 5 for five during the regular. However, Tatum missed a potential game-changing triple just three seconds after.
Jalen Brunson came out of the blue to secure the Knicks winning their 15th time in 25 road games. Having the best record of the season. After that of Celtics (17-9) by putting an assist on Malcolm Brogdon’s last shot at the final buzzer.
The season’s second match between the NBA’s longest-running rivals was played in the atmosphere of a playoff game that featured 19 lead changes and nine deadlocks.
Boston seemed warm from the exterior from the start of the game and took a 15-point advantage. However, New York recovered behind Randle, Brunson, and Immanuel Quickley.
The Knicks took a six-point lead after three quarters, with Randle and Brunson scoring 27 out of points of 33 in the third quarter. They increased their lead to 13 by the beginning of the final quarter, courtesy of their second team and with Miles McBride setting the tone for the defense.
However, the Celtics defeated 12 points deficit by executing an impressive 16-4 run during the final 4:48 of the regulation. Tatum scored the ball for 11 points of his total 35 in the run. However, he missed an open shot that would have left 3.5 seconds remaining.
Jericho Sims had a game-saving block on the shot of Robert Williams III before time ran out.
In overtime, the Celtics scored their early five points, including three thanks to Derrick White and Tatum’s two free throws — and jumped ahead. The Knicks didn’t score until 2:45 following Randle’s fifth 3-pointer, which allowed Barrett to make his heroics.
The Knicks’ second win was a major one against the East’s top teams, pushing the Knicks’ record to 27-23. They are half one game ahead of the sixth-seed Miami Heat (27-22).
Barrett ended up scoring 19 points, scoring on six of 18 shooting. He scored just one of four on the inside before when he scored a crucial three-pointer during overtime.
Randle continued to show his shooting way with 37 points, scoring five at the far arc after he threw a record-breaking eight triples in Cleveland the previous night. He also finished his performance with two poster slams, one against Al Horford and Tatum. He fell one rebound short of a double-double.
Brunson has also put on an All-Star-worthy display. After finishing 10th on the All-Star poll of Eastern Conference guards, Brunson was in a frenzy and hit on the Marcus Smartless Celtics with 27 scores and seven assists.
They quickly recorded 15 points out of 17 during the first quarter to keep the Knicks on the right track.
Sims also put on a show and scored 14 rebounds in another game for the injured player, Mitchell Robinson.
Despite Sims having a monster night on the boards. However, the Knicks were outnumbered to the tune of five on both the defensive and offensive side, which the Celtics made up to an advantage of 21-8 when it came to second-chance points. They made up ground by converting only eight turnovers compared to 13 for the Celtics. Which resulted in four more chances.
In the match that Knicks tormentor and TNT expert Reggie Miller dubbed a potential first-round playoff game. The Knicks proved they could beat the top team in the league.
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