Inside The Celtics

White and Porzingis Shine as Celtics Pass Physical Challenge from Knicks

Derrick White led all scorers with 30 points, and Kristaps Porzingis produced 21 in his first game after missing the last four, helping the Celtics earn a 133-123 win vs. the Knicks.

Bobby Krivitsky

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics bounced back from Monday's 122-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers, ousting them from the In-Season Tournament.

They did it with a total team effort, combatting the physical challenge issued to them by the New York Knicks.

All five of Boston's starters scored in double-figures, including Kristaps Porzingis, who didn't miss a beat in his first game back after missing the last four due to a left calf strain.

The seven-foot-three center registered 21 points on 7/13 shooting, looking sharp from beyond the arc and in the mid-post, repeatedly facing up and shooting over defenders.

The hosts also got an outstanding performance from Derrick White, which is par for the course. The former Colorado Buffalo generated 30 points, leading all scorers. He aggressively attacked downhill and looked for his shot from the opening tip. He also had three assists, three rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

The Celtics also got a terrific game from his backcourt mate, Jrue Holiday. The two-time All-Star stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

He was excellent defensively and made sure Boston maintained an up-tempo pace, which is crucial to its success.

Jayson Tatum contributed 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Jaylen Brown chipped in 17 points, including multiple posterizing dunks, four dimes, a steal, and a block before getting ejected.

Now, a deep dive into how Boston, who only committed eight turnovers, passed two critical tests, overcoming New York's physical defense and outplaying its opposition in the third quarter, a frame where it's often at its worst.

1. After a four-game absence due to a left calf strain, Kristaps Porzingis returned to the Celtics' lineup. He did so without having a minute restriction.

He immediately made his presence felt, generating Boston's first eight points. He threw down a dunk off a baseline inbound on a second-chance opportunity and drilled back-to-back threes.

2. Porzingis produced ten points in the first frame, matching Derrick White for the most in the period. The latter was at the root of the hosts' scoring 14 points in the paint.

The former Colorado Buffalo did an excellent job attacking downhill, aggressively looking for his shot, then capitalizing, often using the glass.

3. The Celtics gave up six second-chance points to the Knicks, an offense that relies heavily on extending possessions to produce in the half-court.

That was an area Boston struggled in during the first two matchups against New York. But after the first quarter of the two's last meeting, a 114-98 win for the former, the C's did a much better job, thanks mainly to a pressing defense that fatigued Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson in the second half.

The hosts overcame those issues, and Jayson Tatum's going scoreless, only taking one shot, by drilling 6/15 (40 percent) of their threes. They held a 33-32 edge after the first 12 minutes, thanks to Payton Pritchard streaking to the basket for a buzzer-beating layup.

4. The second quarter was heavy on whistles and slow on pace. But with Porzingis pouring in nine more points, including repeatedly doing damage from the mid-post, utilizing his height to face up and shoot over his defender, the Celtics held a 74-65 advantage at halftime.

The seven-foot-three center entered the break with 19 points, pacing all participants. He did so on 7/8 shooting.

5. As a collective, his team stayed hot from beyond the arc, burying 5/11 (45.5 percent) of its threes in the second frame. Boston converted on 11/26 (42.3 percent) of its long-range attempts in the first 24 minutes.

That included this Al Horford triple off a cross-court dime delivered off the dribble by Tatum.

It was impressive to see the hosts of Friday's matchup stay in rhythm despite the slow tempo and the physicality of New York's defense.

They also needed it to combat the visitors' 12 second-chance points in the first half. Though, to the Celtics' credit, they only committed one turnover in the second period.

6. The third quarter is usually when Boston's at its worst. But on Friday night at TD Garden, the hosts dominated most of the first 12 minutes after intermission.

That included defending on a string, forcing four turnovers, maintaining an up-tempo approach, putting seven fast-break points on the board, and scoring ten in the paint.

The Celtics' ball movement and spacing were also excellent, translating to nine assists on 13 field goals and making 7/11 (63.6 percent) of their threes.

7. Derrick White, the best player on the floor in the third frame, led all scorers with 11 points. 

He also dished out three assists, including one while operating as the screener, then getting the ball on a short roll and quickly lofting a lob to Luke Kornet for an alley-oop. He also registered two rejections in the period.

8. The lead grew as high as 20, but the Knicks got hot from beyond the arc at the end of the quarter. Fortunately for the hosts, Al Horford drilled a corner three shortly before the buzzer blew, ending New York's 9-0 run and giving Boston a 109-95 lead entering the final 12 minutes.

9. At the 7:19 mark in the final frame, Brown received a quick two technicals, abruptly ending his night.

The first one came after he picked up a personal foul. He argued that the same call could've gotten made at the other end, something the official didn't appreciate.

Then, he got ejected for saying something as he walked to the far end of the bench. It was a soft second technical. Brown started heading toward referee Jason Goldenberg, but people intervened, and he went to the locker room.

10. New York then staged a 15-5 run with a small lineup featuring Isaiah Hartenstein at center, flanked by guards and wings.

But in a chippy, low-scoring fourth quarter, the Celtics, sans Brown, went 9/9 at the free-throw line and produced ten points in the paint, helping them seal a 133-123 victory and improve to 3-0 against New York this season.

11. The Celtics are off until Tuesday when they'll host the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Tip-off is at 7:30 EST.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Discusses Kobe Bryant's Motivating Message, His All-Time Top 7, and Dream Finals Opponent

Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Why He Chose Celtics, First Impressions in Boston: 'Perfect Scenario'

Tyrese Haliburton, Another Sloppy 3rd Qtr., Propel Pacers Past Celtics in In-Season Tournament

Joe Mazzulla Praises Payton Pritchard's Fourth-Quarter Performance in C's Win vs. 76ers

An Empowered Jaylen Brown Strives to Balance Scoring with Playmaking: 'I've Grown A Lot'

Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis Discuss Their Quickly Cultivated Chemistry: 'An Automatic Connection'

Joe Mazzulla Believes Celtics' Second Unit is 'Starting to Develop an Identity'

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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