Celtics vs. Knicks: Analysis, Twitter Reaction, Grades and More
The race for the Atlantic Division crown ain't over yet, not after the New York Knicks held off the hard-charging Boston Celtics for a 118-110 victory at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The Knicks rode a 37-11 run to a 19-point advantage at the half that they never fully relinquished.
The Celtics did their best to make a game of it down the stretch, even with Ray Allen sitting out his fifth game in a row with an ankle injury. But, they couldn't quite overcome Carmelo Anthony's triple-double day and dual 25-point efforts by J.R. Smith and Steve Novak off New York's bench.
Tweets of the Night
Clearly, Mike Woodson's instilled a new attitude in the Knicks since taking over for Mike D'Antoni.
Don't believe me? Check out this bit of photo evidence, courtesy of 3030fm.com:
"PIC: The Knicks. Stylin' On Youyfrog.com/3wt1maj
— 3030 (@jose3030) April 17, 2012"
John Schuhmann of NBA.com was kind enough to correct the notion, from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, that Tyson Chandler is second on the Knicks' totem pole, behind Carmelo Anthony and well ahead of J.R. Smith:
"Did they waive Tyson Chandler? RT @FisolaNYDN: J.R. Smith is now (gulp) the Knicks second best player.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) April 18, 2012"
Not that Smith is a slouch of any sort. He played a huge part in an onslaught from beyond the arc that caught the attention of Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowler Roddy White:
"This is ridiculous never seen anything like the Knicks shooting 3s
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) April 18, 2012"
Grades for Key Celtics Players
Paul Pierce: A+
Perhaps you noticed that Paul Pierce was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March. Perhaps not.
Either way, "The Truth" is back to playing the caliber of basketball out of which he's fashioned a first-ballot Hall of Fame career, leading all scorers at the Garden with a season-high 43 points.
It was a vintage Pierce performance, in which the Celtics lifer launched lazy-looking shots that tickled the twine and slowly wove through the basket time after time, topped off by a 17-of-18 free-throw mark.
Rajon Rondo: A
Another game, another double-double for Rajon Rondo.
Ho...hum.
Rondo racked up 13 points, six rebounds and 13 assists to extend his double-digit assist streak to 23 games. If the All-Star point guard keeps up his dime-dropping ways, he'll be an easy pick to surpass John Stockton's NBA record of 29 straight games with 10 or more helpers.
Grades for Key Knicks Players
Carmelo Anthony: A+
Is anyone still wondering who runs the Knicks now? The much-maligned 'Melo crossed the 30-point plateau for the fourth time in his last six games and fifth in eight, with 35 points on 13-of-24 shooting from the field.
And you know that business about Anthony not being a team player? Try pushing that narrative after 'Melo added 12 rebounds and 10 assists to record the second triple-double of his career.
Tyson Chandler: B+
Tyson Chandler strengthened his grip on the league's field-goal-percentage lead with a 9-of-10 shooting performance, good for 20 points against the Celtics.
Even with all that offensive exertion, Chandler managed to play solid defense on Kevin Garnett, though his seven rebounds—well below his season average of 10 per game—left something to be desired.
Deciding Factor: Three-Point Shooting
The Celtics could do little but stand by and watch the Knicks knock down three-pointer after three-pointer. New York sprinted out to a daunting double-digit advantage by hitting 19-of-32 from beyond the arc, including 11-of-15 in the second quarter.
The Celtics were no slouches from distance, making 11-of-21 attempts, though the Knicks seemed to have the answer from downtown every time Boston bullied its way back into the game.
Game MVP: 'Melo
There's a lot to like about what J.R. Smith and Steve Novak contributed off the bench, but a triple-double is a triple-double, and 'Melo only has two of those in his illustrious career.
So, yeah, kudos goes to him for turning in his finest performance in a Knicks uniform.
What's Next
Both teams will continue their respective marches toward the playoffs on Wednesday, when the Celtics welcome the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic to the TD Garden. Meanwhile, the Knicks head across the Hudson River to take on the New Jersey Nets.
