BSJ Game Report: Knicks 118, Celtics 109 - C's mail in meaningless game

Everything you need to know about the Celtics loss to the Knicks, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

Things started out well enough but Boston did get sloppy, giving 17 points off turnovers and second chances in the first quarter. Their 3-point shooting kept them within 3 to start the second, but they fell apart halfway through and fell behind by 21 at the half. The deficit grew to 31 in the third as it was clear the Celtics regulars had little interest in making a comeback. The reserves, though, did, and outscored the Knicks by 20 in the fourth. It wasn't enough, but the fans got something to cheer about.

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Minimal effort: I think I saw Al Horford jump twice in this game. If Al is not invested, then no one is going to be invested. The Celtics put forth a decent effort to start the game, tried for a few plays here and there in the second quarter, and then kind of phoned it in after that. 

- Seeding: This gives New York the inside track for the third seed. That would keep them out of Boston’s path until the Conference Finals. It’s not that the Celtics fear the Knicks at all, but they are a good team and it makes sense to try to line up worse teams for the playoff run. 

- No one got hurt: That's the real win here. 

TURNING POINT

The Knicks went on a 22-3 run over the final 6:38 of the second quarter. Boston did not make a field goal over that stretch, getting only three free throws. A two-point game became a 21-point game in a hurry.

THINGS I LIKED

- The bench comeback: This was as nothing as nothing games get, but it was nice for Celtics fans to get the fourth quarter run by the bench to cleanse their palates after the first three quarters. Boston won the quarter 38-18 and got really good minutes from Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Svi Mykhailiuk. It really goes to show that a bit of effort goes a long way. 

- Boston took a free throw! 

After getting none in Milwaukee, they got 14 in this game. 

- Sam Hauser shooting: If there's anything basketball-wise to like, it's that Hauser shot well from 3. He finished 3-5 from deep, and keeping that kind of rhythm is important

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE

- That the starters had to play at all: TNT had the game, so the starters had to play. And after shelling out all the cash they did for Holiday, I don’t blame them for not wanting to pay even more just for guys to sit. 

HIGHLIGHTS

ONE TAKE KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- There is literally nothing to take from this game

This was perhaps the most meaningless game I have ever seen. There is nothing to take from it. They didn’t try any particular defense because they might play the Knicks in the playoffs. They didn’t really run anything funky on offense because… well, you know. The end-of-game run by the bench was nice, but it wasn't revelatory in any way.

They played this game because they were obligated to do so. The Celtics players are completely done with the regular season. They are checked out. 

And that's fine, by the way. It doesn’t mean they're building bad habits. They have about five months of good habits built up, a couple of bad games here isn’t going to erase that. 

Hey, at least they don’t have a back-to-back or anything tomorrow … oh wait …

Next up: The Celtics host the Hornets on the back-to-back tomorrow night