The Celtics kicked off their five-game homestand with a win Friday night, defeating the New York Knicks 133-123.
If you include the preseason, Friday night marked the fifth meeting between Boston and New York, with the Celtics advancing to 3-0 in regular season play. With the win, the Celtics clinched the season series with the Knicks for the first time in four years.
The win also marked Boston’s 17th consecutive regular-season victory at home, dating back to last season. The Celtics are the NBA’s only remaining undefeated team at home, posting a 10-0 record at TD Garden. Seven of their 10 home wins have come by double-digits.
Six Celtics finished the night in double-figures scoring, with Derrick White leading the way, pouring in 30 points on 10-of-16 (62.5%) shooting from the field and 6-of-10 (60%) from deep, marking his second-career 30-point game.
Kristaps Porzingis finished with 21 points on 7-of-13 (52.8%) shooting in his first game back from injury.
Friday night was just the 12th time this season the Celtics had their preferred starting five, with Boston advancing to 11-1 in those games.
Despite both teams entering the night top-10 in defense, there wasn’t much defense played. However, the Celtics got stops when they needed to in the second half, and their 48-of-91 (52.7%) shooting from the field and 19-of-47 (40.4%) from deep was too much for the Knicks to overcome.
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics improve their record to 16-5 and remain atop the Eastern Conference.
Derrick White and Jrue Holiday show why they are the best backcourt in the league
Boston’s backcourt tandem of White and Holiday received high praise from Knicks’ head coach Tom Thibodeau pregame.
“Jrue is a unique player, I think one of the best players in the league,” Thibodeau said. “But I also think Derrick White is one of the most underrated players in the league.”
The Celtics’ star duo, dubbed “The Stock Exchange," was all over the place on Friday night.
To go along with his game-high 30 points, White added three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, finishing with a game-high +21 plus-minus. It marked the third time in the last five games White finished with a +20 or better plus-minus.
The performance drew MVP chants from the TD Garden crowd, to which White humbly responded postgame, “We’ve got the best fans in the league, so I’m always thankful and grateful for them. I mean, I know I’m not the MVP, but it’s always cool to hear.”
Meanwhile, Holiday finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 (63.6%) shooting, six rebounds, and five assists, as he was able to find some offensive production by being aggressive around the rim. The 6-foot-4 guard also had two steals and a block.
The duo combined for 46 points on 17-of-27 (62.9%) shooting, nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and three blocks.
Kristaps Porzingis’ presence immediately felt in return
The Celtics missed Porzingis.
The 7-foot-2 big man came out hot, scoring the Celtics’ first eight points, as he knocked down his first seven shots en route to a 19-point first half.
Porzingis feasted on New York’s drop coverage and switching defense, causing nightmares for the Knicks, in particular, Isaiah Hartenstein.
It’s no surprise Boston’s offense was humming in a way we haven’t seen since Porzingis went down, as his value was on full display Friday night.
To go along with his 21 points, Porzingis finished with three rebounds, an assist, and two steals.
After the game, Porzingis said his calf felt “good” and that there was no tightness.
“Felt good to be back out there,” Porzingis said. “Was itching to get back out there with my guys and happy about getting back and beating a good team like the Knicks.”
Jaylen Brown’s questionable ejection
For the second consecutive home game, the Celtics had one of their All-NBA players ejected.
Last Friday, it was Jayson Tatum, this time, it was Brown, who picked up his first career ejection Friday night with a pair of technicals in the fourth quarter.
The first technical was called due to Brown making a comment toward referee Jason Goldenberg after being called for a reach-in foul on Immanuel Quickley with 7:19 remaining.
The reach-in foul was Brown’s fifth of the night, and as a result, Joe Mazzulla took him out of the game.
As Brown walked off toward the Celtics bench, he kept complaining, and Goldenberg threw him out of the game despite being on the opposite side of the court.
Brown was held back by the Celtics bench as he tried to walk up to Goldenberg.
According to a pool report after the game with crew chief Mark Lindsay, Brown’s use of profanity led to him getting the first tech, an explanation that was given to Mazzulla by the officials.
“The ref told me that he gave him the first technical because Jaylen said, ‘Don’t call that weak-ass s—,’” Mazzulla said postgame. “So he gave him a tech for that.”
“I’ve been on the sidelines in the NBA for five years and I’ve seen players act and say things that are way more disrespectful than that,” Mazzulla added.
The pool report states the second foul was called due to “A wave-off directed at the official which under the respect of the game guidelines is considered an overt gesture and an unsportsmanlike act.”
Mazzulla was careful with his words postgame, saying that he was trying not to cost himself $25,000. However, Brown was not.
“I wish I would have gotten my money’s worth,” Brown said postgame. “I always thought my first career ejection would be something a little more exciting. Maybe a tussle with some guys get folded up, and go to the ground. Not some overemotional ref who had a bad day.”
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