Scoreboard
Hornets 117, Pistons 106
Heat 101, 76ers 99
Knicks 109, Celtics 94
Magic 101, Pelicans 93
What went down
The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the league for the better part of the season. They’ve had an answer to nearly every team that’s challenged them. However, if there’s one team that the Celtics haven’t figured out this season, it’s the New York Knicks.
In their last game, the Knicks outplayed the Celtics in the clutch to pull out the win in OT. In their matchup today, the game wasn’t even that close. Playing in front of their home crowd, the Knicks blew out the best team in the league to cruise to an easy win.
The Celtics jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the game. That would be the biggest advantage of Boston in the game. The Knicks shut down the Celtics after that. New York only allowed 15 points in the first quarter, taking an early double-digit lead. They grew that advantage to as large as 20 points midway through the second period and kept the Celtics at bay all the way to the end.
The Knicks just scuttled the Celtics all game long. Things got so bad for Boston that a visibly frustrated Jayson Tatum was ejected late in the game, killing any chance the Celtics had to steal the win.
Josh Hart's reaction to Tatum getting ejected 😅😂 pic.twitter.com/dnvubcHET8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2023
Julius Randle and Immanuel Quickley led six Knicks who scored in double figures with 23 points each. Jalen Brunson added 17 points while Josh Hart had 12 points off the bench. The Knicks shut down the vaunted Celtics offense, limiting them to just 44 percent shooting from the field and 21.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Coming into Madison Square Garden, the Celtics were the best team in the league. After falling to the Knicks again, they give up their top spot to the Milwaukee Bucks who overtake them in the standings. As for the Knicks, they’re solidifying their place in the playoffs, winning their sixth straight game.
What he said
The Knicks haven’t been this good in such a long time so most basketball fans don’t remember the energy in Madison Square Garden when the fans are rocking.
Knicks fan Tracy Morgan has one word to describe The Garden when the Knicks are going on a run.
Tracy Morgan has one word to describe the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden: 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2023
Watch #NBAThrowItDown live on the NBA App!
📲 https://t.co/Vhxi2Vykle pic.twitter.com/nL0OnGHuIn
That must have been the energy in the arena today when the Knicks were bulldozing the Celtics.
Big-time baller
Normally when the Philadelphia 76ers have a game, Joel Embiid takes home the Big-time baller “award”. Not today though. Even though the Sixers' big man led all players in scoring with 27 points, it was Jimmy Butler that came up bigger in today’s game.
Butler nearly had a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. He did everything in today’s game to lead the Heat to a big win…
Did you see that?
…including this crazy clutch basket OVER Embiid.
JIMMY BUCKETS 🗣?
— NBA (@NBA) February 28, 2023
Heat lead 100-99 with 0:49 to play on NBA TV
WATCH: https://t.co/ykiYyzWfXQ pic.twitter.com/xXJ2Wbit0l
Usually clutch baskets are a jumper or a straight line drive to the hoop. When things are tight and the win is at stake, players usually become risk-averse and go to their tried-and-tested moves.
Not Butler though. With no direct shot at the basket, he manufactured a bucket from thin air. That’s why they call him Jimmy Buckets.
