
Boston Celtics get jarring reminder in Game 1 loss to Knicks
BOSTON — Once the Knicks erased their 20-point deficit, they forced the Celtics to play the only brand of basketball they've known these playoffs: clutch games. New York had to battle past the Pistons in six games which featured multiple close finishes, so the Knicks have lived this life for the past few weeks.
So there were the Knicks again down the stretch of a classic Game 1 of the East semifinals. The Celtics were up for the challenge in regulation, throwing haymakers themselves to fend off the Knicks. When New York went up six points after back-to-back Jalen Brunson 3s, there were the C's who ripped off a 7-0 run themselves.
Advertisement
But by the end, the Celtics didn't have enough makes in them as they were stunned in an overtime thriller in Game 1. The C's got a jarring reminder that these are the playoffs, where clutch games can turn on a whim and it's a different environment. Plus, who they can rely on during the playoffs is different than the regular season.
'In those moments, when other teams got momentum, we can't just fire up 3s to break up momentum,' Jaylen Brown said. 'You got to get to the free-throw line, get to the paint, get to the basket, maybe get an easy two. Get some free throws and then maybe the next 3-pointer feels a little bit better. I feel like we just settled in the second half a lot, but we'll look at it and we'll make adjustments.'
The Celtics beat the Knicks in differing ways during the regular season, but they often relied on those 3-pointers. They even tied an NBA record on opening night when they knocked down 29 of them that also doubled as ring night. But Monday's loss was different as the Celtics admitted they settled on multiple 3-pointers. The Celtics' 45 missed 3-pointers was an NBA playoffs record for futility.
The playoff stage was also again bothersome for Kristaps Porzingis, who left Game 1 early due to an illness. He went 0-for-4 from the field for zero points, and while he collected four rebounds, that was the extent of his production in 13 minutes. The big man looks less and less reliable as each playoff game passes, and this latest illness is another question mark going forward. Even if he wasn't 100% for Game 1, that then calls into concerns his availability issues. The C's made do without him on the fly, but with Sam Hauser also picking up an ankle injury Monday, the depth was affected.
Advertisement
'We'll check on him,' C's coach Joe Mazzulla said. 'But obviously it impacts the game with his ability on both ends of the floor, and it obviously changes sub patterns or changes the things that you're able to do matchup-wise and play-call frequency wise, so yeah, I think we felt it, but it's no excuse. We had plenty of opportunities to do it, and hopefully he's ready for Game 2.'
The Celtics are still favored to get past the Knicks even though they had a setback to open the series. But the margin of error certainly slimmed after the Game 1 loss, which also doubled as Boston's first defeat to New York in five games. While the Celtics as a team are proven playoff contenders, they're not immune to falling into bad habits like setting for 3-pointers.
So the C's will look to regroup since that's all they can do. There's seemingly no sense of panic considering it was just one game. But it was the latest data point that if the C's stray away from what made them great, they're susceptible to disappointing games like Monday's loss to the Knicks.
'You take a look at it and you learn what you can learn from it,' Brown said. 'Obviously we had a historic night of missed 3-pointers. We'll take a look and kind of see what the energy was. But in reality, you almost got to have a short-term memory, throw it away, get ready for game two. We don't have time to let stuff carry over, so we make adjustments and come ready to play on our home floor.'
More Celtics content
Read the original article on MassLive.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Knicks and Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd Reportedly Have Mutual Interest
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. According to a new report, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is interested in the New York Knicks' coaching opening, further fueling rumors of a union forming between both parties. The Knicks fired former head coach Tom Thibodeau despite the team reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in decades. The front office, whether fairly or not, had title-winning aspirations and were disappointed about how short the team fell this season. The Knicks are focused on finding their next head coach, who they hope will be able to take the team over the top and deliver a championship. One of the hottest names in the coaching search's early stages is Kidd, who led the Mavs to the NBA Finals a season ago. Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on January 31, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Kidd is seeking a contract extension this... Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first quarter at Target Center on January 31, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Kidd is seeking a contract extension this upcoming offseason. MoreKidd played for the Knicks at the end of his career and spent most of his basketball career in the New York area, considering his long stint with the New Jersey Nets. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports that there is interest on both sides of the aisle to make Kidd the next Knicks head coach. "The way I would describe this is there's mutual intrigue on both sides, and also, I know there's this whole thing about asking for permission," Windhorst said during an appearance on SportsCenter. "You don't ask for permission to hire another team's coach. When you ask, you're going to hire them. "So essentially, when the Knicks express interest, the ball will be in the Mavericks' court, and they have three options, as I see it. "One, they can just say, no, thank you very much. Jason, we'll see you in the fall. "They can try to make Jason Kidd have zero interest in the Knicks, possibly with a new contract. They did just give him an extension last year. "Or they can negotiate a trade, and we have seen a handful of trades of coaches over the last 15 to 18 years, including Jason Kidd being traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Milwaukee Bucks for two second-round picks 11 years ago. "So it's not like Jason Kidd hasn't been in this situation before." Windy on Kidd being linked to the Knicks HC gig: "The way I would describe this is there's mutual intrigue on both sides" — Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 9, 2025 Windhorst's reporting seemingly confirms the feeling around the league that the Knicks have Kidd as a top candidate. To get Kidd out of his contract with the Mavs, it will take compensation, but considering how bold the Knicks were to fire their successful coach, they would likely not hesitate to do what it takes to get what they see as a difference-maker. More NBA news: Kevin Durant Future Reportedly Tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA Champion Says Timberwolves Should Target This Anthony Edwards Co-Star Lakers Listed as Potential Landing Spot For All-Star Center For more NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.


Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Celtics Given Big Update on Kristaps Porzingis Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Celtics are in a strange place as the NBA offseason gets started. Boston has one of the best rosters in the entire league, but due to heavy financial problems, the Celtics are likely to break up the core. Many insiders around the NBA believe that the Celtics will look to shed salary this summer, and it could cause major hits to the roster. Star center Kristaps Porzingis and guard Jrue Holiday are among the biggest names being talked about, and it could see them both be moved. More NBA news: Celtics' Jrue Holiday Gets Big Update Amid Trade Rumors Holiday still has three years left on his deal, and due to his age, his contract could be tough to move. But Porzingis may be easier, and the Celtics could elect to move the All-Star big man. However, according to NBA contributor Evan Sidery of Forbes, there is a thought around the league that Boston will need to increase draft capital to part with Porzingis. The star center is owed $30.7 million next year, but is on an expiring deal. The prevailing thought among league executives is the Celtics will need to include draft capital in a trade offloading Kristaps Porzingis' $30.7 million expiring contract. Boston is very open to moving Porzingis as their top goal will be to dodge the second apron this offseason. — Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 9, 2025 If the Celtics do have to move extra draft capital to move Porzingis, it could limit any potential trades. Even on an expiring deal, Porzingis may be seen as a negative asset. More NBA news: Rockets, Spurs Linked to Draft Trade Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant Rumors When he is healthy, Porzingis is among the best centers in the NBA. But his inability to stay on the court has cost the Celtics, and opposing teams could be wary of trading for him. Last season, Porzingis was limited to jsut 42 games during the regular season. However, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the 3-point line in those games. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 09: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 09: Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. Porzingis has suffered a major injury in his leg. MoreBut in the playoffs, his availability hindered the Celtics once again. The big man missed time due to a mysterious illness, and he was hardly effective for Boston. The Celtics likely don't want to give up on Porzingis, but his injury history remains concerning. Boston has to avoid going over the second apron tax line again this season, and it could cause a star like Porzingis to be traded. More NBA news: Nuggets Trade Idea Lands Nikola Jokic Perfect Co-Star Kevin Durant Trade Rumors Given Shocking Prediction Cavaliers Star Shocks Fans After Undergoing Major Offseason Surgery For more on the Boston Celtics and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Knicks Suggested to Hire Head Coach ‘Responsible For Building' Warriors
Knicks Suggested to Hire Head Coach 'Responsible For Building' Warriors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was fired after five seasons with the organization, fresh off leading the club to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 seasons. Advertisement This leaves pressure on the front office to make a home run of a hire. Instead of giving Thibodeau another season with this squad, to see if he could take them further, they decided they need someone they are confident can take them to the promised land. Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka and Chris Finch -- all three active coaches -- have been linked to the vacancy early in the process. They've all got conference finals experience, with Udoka and Kidd both coaching in the NBA Finals in the past few years. Stephen A. Smith, ESPN pundit and known Knicks superfan, had a clear head coaching suggestion for New York. He wants the team to consider hiring Mark Jackson, a former head coach of the Golden State Warriors. © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports "I'm gonna always mention the name Mark man was responsible for building Golden State before Steve Kerr was brought in and took over and piggybacked off of that," Smith explained. The logic is interesting here. Did Jackson do a solid job with the Warriors before the dynasty? Absolutely. He won 23 games in year one before winning 51 games in year three. Advertisement In the final two years of his three-year stint, he coached in the playoffs, with a total record of 9-10 in postseason play. However, there was a reason Steve Kerr was brought in to architect the dynasty years. He found success in the playoffs. Of course, Jackson was early to the party, and Kerr struck at the right time -- as Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were entering their prime years. The New York native being linked to the Knicks makes sense. He's got limited coaching experience, though. While he is attached to the Warriors' dynasty, New York might opt to aim for a bench boss with more experience -- particularly deep in the playoffs. Advertisement Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks' title window is seemingly open. New York needs to strike while they can, taking no chances to bolster their ability to raise a banner. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.