Celtics avoid rare 3-game skid against Knicks

The Boston Celtics will try to avoid a three-game losing streak for the second time this season when they start a four-game homestand against the New York Knicks on Thursday night.

Boston was 7-0 in the second game in a row before losing 98-95 in Miami on Tuesday, the night after a 113-98 loss to Orlando.

Entering the week with a nine-game winning streak, the Celtics played their second game in Florida with a significantly short-handed lineup. They hope to return to a more full force in the first of his three-night, two-game run from Thursday.

Starters Jalen Brown (injury management), Al Horford (back), Marcus Smart (ankle) and sixth man Malcolm Brogdon (individual) faced the Magic.

Celtics guard Derrick White said, “We pride ourselves on being the deepest team, so when people were out, we had a ‘next man up’ mentality. “Obviously, we dropped two games we could have won, so we don’t see who’s playing and who’s not.”

Without his usual supporting role, Boston star Jayson Tatum scored 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, added 14 rebounds and seven assists, but had seven turns. I recorded an over.

The Celtics were held to 13 points in the fourth quarter, finishing under 100 points overall for the fourth time this season. They lost even though he limited Miami to 36.2% shots from the floor.

Due to the absence, Peyton Pritchard stepped up and played a season-high 42 minutes on Tuesday. He had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

“I love what[Pritchard]has done,” said Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzura. I think he creates good looks for us on the attacking side.”

New York snapped a four-game slide with a 105-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. Knicks’ Julius Randle, who had 36 points and 13 rebounds, tied the game with his eighth 3-pointer of the night with 2:07 remaining.

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson posted eight straight 25-plus-point games on Friday.

“It wasn’t the cleanest[or]smoothest, but we found a way to smash it and come out victorious,” Branson said. is easy to win, but can you win the game when things go wrong? This was a good stepping stone for us.”

The Knicks’ first win since their January 15 win over Detroit included a massive play as reserve center Isiah Hartenstein blocked a short shot from Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell with 47 seconds remaining. rice field.

“Especially with[Mitchell Robinson]out, I was trying to help out in any way I could, just trying to do his part and protect the rim,” Hartenstein said.

The Celtics and Knicks haven’t faced each other since November 5, a 133-118 Boston Road victory in which Brown scored 30 points and Randle scored 29 points.

Boston has won its last three home matches against New York, but Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau believes his team has what it takes to compete.

“Sometimes we’re inadequate, but they’re great workers, studying and trying to do the right thing every day,” said Thibodeau. It will improve. A lot of learning is trial and error, you have to go through it.”

–Field level media