Final: Knicks 131, Celtics 129 (2 OT) - Horford's game-winner falls just short

Game 65: Celtics (-6.5) vs New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m., TD Garden, NBCS Boston/ESPN

Injuries: 

Boston: OUT- Danilo Gallinari, Malcolm Brogdon (ankle), Robert Williams (hamstring)

New York: OUT- Jalen Brunson

Knicks probable starters: Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson

Refs: Ed Malloy (#14), Tre Maddox (#23), Brett Nansel (#44)

Last time they played: Knicks 109, Celtics 94, February 27- We saw another slow start with a lot of missed 3-pointers in this first quarter, with Jayson Tatum struggling again. They kept it close until a late Knicks run to open up a double-digit lead. It grew to 20 in the second quarter until a 12-0 Celtics run built on attacking the paint, but the Knicks answered to take a 14-point halftime lead. The Celtics actually won the third quarter but every time they tried to make a run, New York would answer. Derrick White helped cut back into the lead, but they could never get any closer than 10. To top it off, Tatum was ejected for arguing with the officials. 

A little something about this game: The Knicks followed up that win over Boston by destroying the Nets and beating Miami on a buzzer beater. They have now won eight straight games. They are 2-2 without Brunson. The Knicks followed up that win over Boston by destroying the Nets and beating Miami on a buzzer beater. They have now won eight straight games. They are 2-2 without Brunson. 

How the Celtics win: Making some 3-pointers will help. Joe Mazzulla is adamant about shooting 3-pointers, so at this point, they’d better start making them. It’s all about getting the paint touches and collapsing the Knicks defense. The Celtics actually generated good looks in the second half of their loss at MSG, they just need them to fall. 

How the Knicks win: Losing Brunson is a big blow, so it’ll take a monster Randle performance and someone off the bench to fill in for Quickley’s production (assuming he’s starting). Maybe Tom Thibodeau dips into the Evan Fournier well to see if he can find an outlier performance there. 

Things I’m looking for:

- Jayson Tatum’s consistency: He just can’t keep having hot and cold nights. That can’t continue. He needs to find some consistency and get back to the MVP level he was playing at earlier this season. He can’t alternate between MVP candidate and borderline All-NBA player. 

- Grant Williams bouncing back: I’m just leaving this one here until he does. They need him. Without Robert Williams, this will be a great day for some redemption. 

- 3-pointers the right way: The beginning of the last Knicks game was the worst I’ve seen Boston play in a while. I don’t care how many times I say it, it’s always true and always relevant for this team: work for good 3-pointers and make the opposing defense work for their stops. Don’t do them any favors. 

Follow along below or in the comments during the game, chime in, and let’s have fun.