Final: Knicks 117, Celtics 109 -- C's hit rock bottom against Knicks

The Celtics have reached a lot of low points already on the young season but Wednesday night likely takes the cake. The Knicks led by as many as 26 points in the first half before holding off a late Boston rally for a 117-109 win behind the play of Trey Burke (29 points, 11 assists) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (21 points). 

The boo birds were out in full force during the second quarter as the C’s opened up 0-of-10 from 3-point range and looked listless against a Knicks team that had piled up six straight losses, including a defeat in New York on Tuesday.

With fresh legs and home court advantage, the C’s came into the matchup as double-digits favorites but looked like a team that wanted to be home for Thanksgiving over much of the first three quarters. They cut the deficit down to three points with 34 seconds remaining after trailing by as many as 16 points in the final quarter, but a Burke 3 from the top of the key with 12 seconds remaining but the nail in the coffin for an ugly loss. 

Kyrie Irving had a team-high 22 points and 13 assists for the C's, who shot just 39 percent from the field on the night. They drop to .500 on the year and have lost three straight games overall.

First Half Notes

• C’s get out to a slow start yet again with the starting five, falling behind by seven points early after some wayward shots.


• Aron Baynes doing a nice job early keeping Enes kanter off the glass.


• Irving gets out to a 1-of-6 shooting start, one of the few times in the past month he hasn’t been in rhythm.


• Boston native Noah Vonleh continues to put together a strong season as a surprise starting power forward for the Knicks, leading the visitors in rebounds during the first half.


• Gordon Hayward had a very rough nine minutes with some missed wide open 3s and a mistimed alley-oop pass to Horford in the paint.


• C’s started the game 0-of-10 from 3-point range before Tatum hit the first of the night with six minutes left.


• Lots of boo birds in the second quarter as C’s fell down to as many as 26 points while hovering around the 30 percent mark shooting from the field.


• Trey Burke scored 13 of his 18 points in the second quarter while dishing out five assists. C’s just had no answer for him in the pick-and-roll right now.


• Hayward helped lead the C's back into the game a bit in the closing minutes of quarter, as team made final five shots to cut the deficit to 16 and avoid boos heading into the locker room.

• Al Horford is probable with left knee soreness, which the team announced after the conclusion of the team's practice on Tuesday.


• The Celtics have lost six of their last nine games overall and have won just one game in regulation over that stretch, over the Chicago Bulls last Wednesday night.


• The Knicks have dropped six straight games to fall to 4-14 overall, including a hard-fought defeat to the Blazers last night at Madison Square Garden. They have the second-worst defense in the league over the first 18 games of the season.


• Courtney Lee (neck) and Lance Thomas (knee) are out along with Kristaps Porzingis (torn ACL recovery).