The primary half of Friday evening’s Summer season League conflict between the Celtics and Knicks was principally a loop of the Knicks figuratively pulling the soccer away from the Celtics on the final second.
Solely this time, Charlie Brown wasn’t the one falling flat. He was the one making the opposition’s life depressing. Brown Jr., a 6-foot-6 guard out of St. Joseph’s, erupted for 20 factors earlier than the break, serving to the Knicks construct a commanding 19-point lead.
However the Celtics, like each plucky TV underdog, weren’t out of it simply but. They discovered their mojo within the third quarter, slicing the deficit to 9 heading to the fourth and almost rallying earlier than falling, 97-89.
Dalano Banton paced the Celtics (1-3) with 18 factors and 9 rebounds, Jay Scrubb added 16 and Justin Champagnie chipped in 14. Brown Jr. completed with 27, and Trevor Keels added 20 for New York (2-2).
Boston had its moments within the second half, nevertheless a sluggish begin was in the end an excessive amount of to beat.
The Celtics did not have a lot luck taking part in zone, repeatedly shedding observe of cutters and giving the Knicks straightforward appears.
Brown shot 8-of-11 from the sector within the half, powering the Knicks to a cushion that reached as excessive as 23 and sat 57-38 at halftime. Keels added 12 earlier than the break, and manufacturing got here from a wide range of sources.
On the opposite finish, Boston turned the ball over 10 instances within the first quarter and appeared out of kinds offensively early.
Fortuitously, Jordan Walsh (13 factors) and Scrubb had been prepared to reply. Scrubb led the way in which with 8 within the half, Olek Balcerowski added 7 and Walsh and Banton scored 6 apiece.
At instances within the first quarter, Boston’s greatest offense was giving its guards room to function and letting them beat their man off the dribble. That wasn’t sustainable, although, and the Celtics realized they’d have to maneuver the ball higher to compete. The Knicks had 14 assists within the half in comparison with seven for the Celtics.
The Celtics made some noise early within the third, beginning the quarter on a 20-9 flurry to chop the deficit to 66-58. Champagnie, who scored simply two factors within the first half, caught hearth from downtown to make it 75-66 heading to the fourth.
It obtained as little as two, 77-75, on a Banton 27-footer, however the Celtics ran out of steam. Brown, fittingly, buried a nook 3 to seal it.
Boston faces the Orlando Magic on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET to wrap up Summer season League play.
