Knicks Get Blitzed in Game 3. Boston 115 NY 93

May 11, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0
Mikal Bridges. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

Boston came out and BLITZED the Knicks start to finish on a Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden to win game 3 in this best-of-seven series, 115-93.

The Celtics came out with energy and put the Knicks in a quick hole, and then started hitting 3 after 3 in rhythm. Boston went 20-40 from 3, while the Knicks couldn’t hit a 3 to save their life, going 5-25.

Karl-Anthony Towns (1-4), OG Anunoby (0-2), Mikal Bridges (0-2), and Josh Hart (0-3) were a combined 1-12 from 3.

Boston led by 16 pts at the end of the 1st quarter (36-20), by 25 pts at the half (71-46), by 31 pts late in the 3rd, and by 26 pts entering the 4th (96-70). Boston led by 20 or more throughout the 4th quarter.

Wipe out.

“They got the lead early,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “I thought we missed some shots early that impacted us; they got confidence early in the game.”

“Obviously we have to be better,” expanded Thibs. “They got some clean looks early. They see it go in; that gives them confidence, then it’s hard to shut them off. We have to have greater awareness. We can’t allow missed shots to take away from defensive tenacity. We got to bounce back.”

The Knicks still lead the best-of-7 series 2 games to 1 with the next game set for Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

1. Boston Jumps Out to 16-Pt Lead in 1st Quarter

It was a 7-6 game Boston after KAT free throws and a 3, when Jaylen Brown answered with a 3, KAT missed a shot, and Jayson Tatum hit a 3, and Boston was up 13-6.

Boston was up 17-9 with 5:45 left in the 1st quarter when Mitchell Robinson entered for KAT. Boston immediately went to hack-a-Mitch, and Robinson went 0-4 in two different trips to the line at the end of the quarter.

Meanwhile, Derrick White hit a 3 and Boston went up 20-10, Tatum hit a 3 to put Boston up 27-12.

Kristaps Porzingis was active on both ends of the court, getting to the free throw line on offense where he was making his free throws.

Robinson grabbed a few offensive rebounds — sending the ball outside to shooters — but the Knicks kept missing their 3’s.

“The intent was there. But if you miss shots you tend to not have the same type of energy; and there’s a lot of different ways you can help to win a game,” added Thibodeau in the post game. “No one is going to shoot great every night, but do other things to help the team win. That’s basically what we’ve done all year. We fell short today; we have to take a good long look at the film, and get ready for the next game. Because that’s the only thing that is important. The next challenge that you face.”

2. Late 2nd Quarter Run Puts Boston Up 25 at Half

The 2nd quarter was more of the same — as Boston kept hitting 3’s and the Knicks kept missing. Payton Pritchard got into the action and was hitting 3’s off the bench.

Al Horford started at center, and played a great game — 35 minutes with 6-9 shooting (3-5 from 3) for 15 pts and 9 rebounds. Horford was active inside, blocking Knick shots and also hitting 3’s. Porzingis played 19 minutes off the bench and was a +11, although he was 0-3 from the floor but 5-6 in free throws and had 3 blocks.

A Horford bucket inside gave Boston a 44-25 lead, and a Horford rebound and pass to Pritchard for a 3 gave Boston a 22-pt lead.

NY made a run to pull within 17 at 57-40 with 2:55 left in the half after a KAT drive and Brunson 3. Monica McNutt was saying on the radio how if the Knicks could cut the lead a little more before the half, they would be right back in it.

But the opposite happened — Tatum hit a 3, Al Horford hit a 3, Horford blocked an OG Anunoby shot inside, and Jaylen Brown hit a 3 and Boston was up by 25 at the half.

3. Boston Goes Up by 31 Late in 3rd

The 3rd quarter was more of the same. Instead of the Knicks cutting into the lead, Derrick White and Jrue Holliday hit 3’s at the start of the period, then White hit free throws and Boston was up by 31 pts.

The Knicks fought back with an 8-0 run — a Brunson floater, Bridges jumper, Josh Hart dunk, Bridges J, Anunoby dunk and Bridges jumper pulled NY within 25.

But an Al Horford dunk off a Brown assist put Boston up 87-60.

“Watch Al Horford play and see how he does everything with a purpose but also it’s all about winning,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Watch how he not only defends with a purpose but communicates with a purpose, he helps with a purpose along with rebounding, setting screens to create space for others and competes.”

Boston had an answer for the Knicks all quarter and maintained a lead in the mid 20’s.

4. Garden Crowd Left to Cheer Mitch Robinson Free Throws

Mitchell Robinson’s free throw shooting became a side story in the game — with the Garden roaring every time he hit one.

Mitch went 2-2 from the line with 2:34 left in the 3rd, and the Knicks down by 29 pts. The Garden roared.

Robinson dunked the next time down off a Brunson assist, and then Brunson made a drive, and Robinson hit 1 of 2 free throws as NY pulled to within 26 at end of the 3rd.

5. Knicks Stage Halted Comeback to Start 4th

Jalen Brunson hit a 3 to start the 4th to pull NY within 23 and then Miles McBride and Brunson made back-to-back 3’s to pull NY within 20 at 99-79 — Boston Timeout — with the Garden rocking hoping for some kind of crazy comeback.

But the comeback was halted there. Porzingis hit a free throw out of a timeout, Pritchard hit a J, and Horford answered a Bridges jumper with a bucket inside and Boston was up 23 again with 7:46 left.

KAT kept driving inside and getting snuffed by Horford and Porzingis — seemingly fouled but no foul called.

NY could not dent Boston’s lead.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401769748

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