Celtics Stifle Knicks in Game 3 to Avoid 3-0 Series hole

In what has been dubbed the biggest game in 25 years for the New York Knicks, the reigning champion Boston Celtics showed their championship grit in dominant fashion. The All-Star tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown showed up big for Boston, with each player dropping 22 points and 19 points, respectively, to lead the team to victory. Boston also saw great contributions across the board, which helped them maintain a commanding lead all the way to the finish line in game 3.

Pritchard and White Light Up the Knicks

The incredible depth of the Celtics flexed its muscles in game 3, as both Payton Pritchard and Derrick White provided a lift for Boston on both ends. The sixth man of the year award winner dropped 23 points off the bench to lead all Celtics scorers, including 10 points in the 1st quarter to push the Celtics to an early 19-point lead. Meanwhile, White chipped in on the offensive end with 17 points, while also setting the tone on defense with a chase-down block of Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson early in the 1st quarter.

Celtics Continue Dominance on the Road

During the regular season, the Celtics finished with an impressive 33-8 record on the road, setting a new franchise record for road wins in a season. That road dominance has been the catalyst for a Celtics team looking to repeat as NBA champions, and an electric atmosphere in Madison Square Garden did little to deter them. This was evident in the first half as the Celtics roared out to a 25-point lead heading into halftime.

Not Many Bright Spots for New York

It was mostly a two-man show for the Knicks as both Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were the only Knicks players to score more than 20 points in game 3. Knicks star wing OG Anunoby continued to struggle for the Knicks, as he was only able to collect 2 points as Boston’s defense kept him in check the entire game.

The swarming defense of the Celtics held the Knicks to just 40% shooting for the game by forcing the Knicks into tough shots for the majority of the game. The Celtics showed that they were more than content with both Towns and Brunson to do whatever they want on offense, while limiting other Knicks players from finding their rhythm.

Final Thoughts

Boston has now clawed back some much-needed momentum with their game 3 win over the Knicks. Although there are plenty of adjustments to be made by the Knicks, they very much are still in the driver’s seat heading into game 4. If the Knicks want to put all the pressure on the Celtics before heading back to Boston, they will need key players like Anunoby and Bridges to provide more of a punch on the offensive side of the court.

As for Boston, they will need their star players in Tatum and Brown to keep their aggression on offense turned up to the max if they want to keep their dreams of repeating alive and well. Expect a full-on battle for game 4 in the Garden on Monday night.