Japanese Convention high seeds Boston slumped to their second straight loss with a 118-109 residence defeat to the New York Knicks on the TD Backyard.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson completed with 39 factors to proceed his dazzling run of latest type. The Knicks guard has now scored 35 factors or extra in his final 5 outings.
Brunson’s newest virtuoso effort included six three-pointers in a 15-of-23 taking pictures efficiency from the sphere.
The Knicks are third within the Japanese Convention with a 48-32 report, one sport behind second-placed Milwaukee (49-31) with two video games of the common season remaining.
Boston (62-18) had been subjected to a smattering of boos from their residence followers on the closing buzzer, and Celtics centre Kristaps Porzingis had no complaints with the group’s response.
“We obtained booed on the finish for a cause,” Porzingis mentioned.
“This was not the staff that our followers love. However greatest imagine we’re going to indicate up when we have to.
“We’ve obtained every week of labor now forward of us, a few video games to bounce again and time to get happening all cylinders.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla shrugged off his staff’s second straight loss, saying {that a} drop-off in depth was inevitable as soon as Boston had secured the highest seeding within the postseason.
“I truly don’t thoughts the results of the final two video games,” Mazzulla mentioned.
“Going into the postseason with a bunch of wins and feeling good about your self isn’t essentially any higher than getting in with a bloody lip.”
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PELICANS CLOSE IN ON SIXTH SEED
The New Orleans Pelicans boosted their hopes of securing an computerized playoff berth on Thursday with a 135-123 highway victory over the Sacramento Kings.
In an important Western Convention battle in northern California, Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum each completed with 31 factors because the Pelicans accomplished a powerful wire-to-wire win.
The outcome means New Orleans will clinch sixth place within the West — and keep away from the play-in match — in the event that they win their closing two video games, at Golden State on Friday and towards the Los Angeles Lakers at residence on Sunday.
The Pelicans had been at all times in management after a devastating first-quarter efficiency the place they raced right into a 34-11 lead at one stage after an 18-0 run.
“Throw the primary punch to the final punch, and exit on our defend,” McCollum mentioned of New Orleans’ aggressive first-quarter method.
“Perceive the work, perceive the preparation, have enjoyable with it and simply benefit from the blessing of with the ability to play this sport at a excessive degree,” McCollum added.
Sacramento’s defeat left them in eighth place within the West on 45-35 — an similar report to ninth-placed Golden State and the Tenth-placed Lakers, that means the ultimate standings are prone to go all the way down to the wire.
Golden State improved to 45-35 after labouring previous the eradicated Portland Path Blazers 100-92 in Oregon.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors scoring with 22 factors with Jonathan Kuminga including 19.
In different video games, the Chicago Bulls romped previous the Detroit Pistons 127-105 after 39 factors from DeMar DeRozan and 27 factors from Nikola Vucevic, guaranteeing they may now face the Atlanta Hawks within the first spherical of the play-in match subsequent week.
Within the day’s different fixture, between two already eradicated groups, the Utah Jazz defeated the Houston Rockets 124-121.