Monday night’s 114-98 win over the New York Knicks was arguably the most impressive yet for the Celtics in the young season.
The Knicks are a tough, physical team, and Boston matched their energy for a better part of 48 minutes on Monday night.
Neither team’s offense was particularly impressive in the first half. However, the Knicks took advantage of a handful of open threes and knocked down some tough shots, leading to an eight-point lead midway through the second quarter.
The Knicks flirted with their eight-point for most of the second quarter until the Celtics went on a 7-2 run over the final 1:15 of the half, cutting New York’s lead to just one entering the break. Boston’s run, headlined by a Jaylen Brown three at the buzzer, gave the Celtics some momentum heading into halftime.
The Celtics came out of the halftime break firing, outscoring the Knicks 32-23 in the third quarter. Overall, the Celtics outscored the Knicks 62-45 in the second half.
Five different Celtics finished in double-figures scoring (Porzingis, Brown, Hauser, Holiday), with Jayson Tatum leading the way, pouring in a season-high 35 points. Tatum has now scored 30 points or more in five of his last eight games against the Knicks. The 25-year-old also dished out a game-high seven assists, a new season-high.
As a team, the ball movement continued to show improvement. The Celtics finished with 27 assists. Over their last three games, the C’s are averaging 28.6 assists, which would be good for fourth-best in the league.
Here are three takeaways as the Celtics wrap up their homestand 3-0, advancing to 5-0 at home this season and 8-2 on the year.
Jrue Holiday makes history
Holiday made history when he knocked down a three-pointer late in the third quarter Monday night, reaching 15,000 career points, a milestone only 147 players in NBA history have reached
Holiday also became just the 33rd player in NBA history to record 15,000 points, 5,000 assists, 3,000 rebounds, and 1,000 steals.
The 14-year vet has done it all for the Celtics this season, averaging 12.9 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and a block. The 33-year-old has four double-doubles this season, leads the team in assists, and is second in rebounds, all while presenting a menacing presence on the defensive end.
“He has the ability to affect the game in so many ways,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said pregame when discussing Holiday. “He can be underappreciated at times because of being able to do stuff like that, but I see him thriving in the role we have him in.”
Holiday finished the night with 14 points, a team-high seven rebounds (four offensive), and two assists.
The Celtics’ defense is legit
For a second consecutive game, Boston’s defense held their opponent under 100 points, surrendering just 98 points to New York on Monday night, and 94 to the Raptors on Saturday night.
Boston’s defense made things difficult for the Knicks all night forcing tough shots and shots late in the shot clock. New York finished the night with four shot clock violation turnovers, as the Celtics threw different looks at the Knicks, including a press that completely threw off New York’s rhythm.
Mazzulla and the Celtics entered the season with a heightened emphasis on defense, and so far, the results have shown. Boston currently sits third in the league in defensive rating, posting a 105.8.
Expect Boston’s defense to finish at the top of the league in defensive rating at the end of the season.
Jayson Tatum slams the door
Tatum strengthened his MVP campaign on Monday night. In a game in which teams were exchanging blow for blow, it was Tatum who delivered the knockout punch.
The Celtics led by eight points entering the fourth quarter, and any hope Knicks fans had of staging a late comeback was quickly extinguished by Tatum.
The three-time All-NBA selection exploded for 17 points in the final frame on 6-of-8 (75%) from the field and 4-of-5 (80%) from deep, as what once was an eight-point lead was swiftly up to 17. The Knicks as a team finished with just 22 points in the fourth quarter.
After a relatively quiet first half, Tatum scored 23 points in the second half. Tatum has scored at least 30 points in six of Boston’s' 10 games this season.
The Celtics once again played their best basketball down the stretch on Monday night, which continues to be an encouraging development this season.
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