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Tim BontempsESPN
BOSTON — After lacking two free throws 7.6 seconds into extra time that might have given the Boston Celtics the lead, the star guard Jaylen Brown He took the blame for Boston’s 120-117 extra time loss to the New York Knicks at TD Backyard Thursday evening.
“I simply should get higher, to be trustworthy,” mentioned Brown, after ending with 22 factors on 8-on-22 capturing and 9 rebounds in 42 minutes. “Tonight was a tricky recreation, and I am a greater basketball participant than I performed right this moment.
“These two missed photographs type of epitomize the entire recreation. I simply could not get forward, I did not give my teammates sufficient power to win, and that is what occurs when you do not exit and provides your finest. I will be higher.”
Boston (35-15), dropping three in a row after using 9 straight wins previous to that, wanted a livid comeback within the fourth quarter to have an opportunity to win the sport within the additional session. The Celtics trailed 102-89 with precisely eight minutes left after a free throw by a Knicks guard Miles McBridehowever closed the sport with a 21-8 run to tie issues up.
The Celtics even obtained an opportunity to win the sport in regulation. However a clear have a look at the jumper from Jason Tatum — who had 35 factors, 14 rebounds, and 4 assists on the day he was voted an All-Star participant for the primary time in his profession — obtained excited, sending the sport into extra time.
“I felt like if I referred to as a display screen, they’d double,” Tatum mentioned. “So I type of waved everybody down and got here again to my place, and simply rocked out and in. However it felt good and I assumed it was good.”
Boston then stretched all of it the way in which to 26-8 after Boston opened extra time with 5 straight factors, and it regarded just like the Celtics have been poised to close out New York (27-23). As a substitute, the Knicks fought again, scoring six straight factors to regain the lead at RJ Barrett 3-pointer with 29 seconds remaining – one among solely two baskets the Knicks have hit in extra time.
After the Browns bunted the ball over the baseline to place Boston forward by one, Julius Randelwho had 37 factors whereas recording 9 rebounds, was fouled by Robert Williams and hit two free throws to place New York again by one.
The Browns then went to the foul line after that Galen Bronson He clipped his legs in an try to intercept a possible visitors gentle soar with 7.6 seconds left. Reasonably than put Boston again in entrance, the Browns missed each and compelled the Celtics to foul the Knicks on the following possession.
Barrett hit a pair of free throws, each Tatum and J.J Malcolm Brogdon He missed a possible 3 seconds to tie the sport.
“I believe on your sanity, simply let it’s,” Brown mentioned when requested how he would deal with missed hits. Come on, maintain taking part in basketball and exit and be a greater model of your self.
“I like this recreation, and I like the highs and lows of it. It comes with it, so do not be shy about it. You are taking it, you put on it and be higher within the subsequent recreation.”
The Celtics nonetheless have the perfect file within the NBA, although they now sit only one recreation wanting the Philadelphia 76ers within the loss column.
And whereas Boston nonetheless ranks third total in offensive score and fifth in defensive score, the Celtics have been ranked twenty second within the league in offensive score since early December — a 24-game stretch wherein Boston gained 14-10, the seventh-best file. within the Jap Convention throughout that interval.
Over that stretch, the Celtics have handled a sequence of accidents – together with Marcus Sensible, who missed his third straight recreation with a sprained ankle, whereas Tatum and Brown each wrestle with nagging accidents. There was little likelihood they might proceed the tempo of their stellar begin over the course of an 82-game season.
However after one other disappointing loss, Brown mentioned he needed to lead Boston in the correct course.
“It is psychological,” Brown mentioned. “Having a powerful thoughts. I believe [Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla] He talks about her on a regular basis, and she or he has psychological toughness.
“Having misplaced two video games tonight goes to be a terrific recreation to point out that, and we dropped the ball, and I dropped the ball, as captain. I didn’t give the power to assist my crew win and people two free throws simply type of embodied my complete efficiency tonight.”