The Boston Celtics battled back from Jayson Tatum’s shattering injury blow to defeat the New York Knicks 127-102 and keep their NBA playoff campaign alive on Wednesday.
The Celtics, trailing 3-1 and facing elimination in the best-of-seven series after Monday’s defeat that saw Tatum suffer a ruptured Achilles tendon, roared back with a defiant victory at their TD Garden.
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Derrick White and Jaylen Brown led Boston’s fightback, combining for 60 points to extend the Eastern Conference semi-final series to a game six at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday.
White finished with 34 points while Brown chipped in with 26 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists to give the reigning NBA champions a flicker of hope for the remainder of the series.
Unheralded Boston bench player Luke Kornet also produced a crucial defensive cameo, the 7ft 1in center brilliantly stymying the Knicks’ offensive efforts with seven blocks and a steal.
Kornet also weighed in at the other end with 10 points — part of a balanced Celtics offensive effort that saw six players finish in double figures.
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Boston coach Joe Mazzulla praised his team’s response to Monday’s defeat and the devastating season-ending injury to Tatum.
“Whatever it is that we have to go through, there’s no bunch of people I’d rather do it with than the guys in that locker room,” Mazzulla said. “It’s that simple.
“They made enough plays to win, and they gave us another chance to play.
“You never want to be without any of your players, especially one of your best ones. But regardless of who’s out, each guy steps up and plays a role.”
After a tight first half which saw the two teams tied 59-59 at the break, the contest swung decisively in Boston’s favour in a third-quarter scoring spree.
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White led the way with 13 points as the Celtics outscored the Knicks 32-17 to open up a commanding 15-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter.
The Celtics stretched that lead to 23 points with just under eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and they maintained a hefty double-digit advantage for the remainder of the final frame.
Any hopes of a miraculous Knicks comeback dimmed with 7min 19sec remaining in the fourth quarter when star playmaker Jalen Brunson fouled out following a collision with Brown.
Brunson exited the game with 22 points and six assists after shooting 7-of-17 from the field. Josh Hart led the New York scoring with 24 points while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 19.
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Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said his team’s failure to build on a solid start that saw them lead by nine points in the second quarter had proven costly.
“We didn’t play tough with the lead in the second quarter. Then we came out for the third quarter and didn’t play well — you can’t afford to do that,” Thibodeau said.
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