Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Match Player Stats On Dec 21, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 21, 2017

NEW YORK -- Michael Beasley had 32 points and 12 rebounds, and Enes Kanter added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the New York Knicks defeated the visiting Boston Celtics 102-93 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Kyrie Irving scored 32 points and rookie Jayson Tatum had 17 to lead the Celtics, who are 4-5 since a 22-4 start and have dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.

New York's Kristaps Porzingis returned from a two-game absence with one of the worst performances of his career, an 0-for-11 shooting effort. Porzingis missed all of his shots in the first half and did not attempt a field goal in the third quarter, settling for a lone free throw for his only point of the game with 9:42 left in the third. He grabbed five rebounds.

The Knicks, who have won five of six, went on a 15-6 run in the fourth quarter to take control of what had been a back-and-forth game. Beasley scored nine of his points during the run and finished with 18 in the fourth quarter alone, scoring 28 points after checking in with 5:20 left in the third. Beasley has scored 84 points in the Knicks' past three games, the biggest scoring output for the former No. 2 pick in years.

For much of the game, neither team could muster any offense as they combined to shoot 30-for-89 (33.7 percent) in the first half and 69-for-165 (41.8 percent) for the game. New York shot 36-for-79 (45.6 percent) from the field and Boston shot 33-for-86 (38.4 percent).

Despite Porzingis' shooting woes, the Knicks jumped out to a 14-point lead less than eight minutes into the game as Boston started the game 3 of 13 from the field.

New York (17-14) led by 10 after the first quarter and by 12 one play into the second quarter on a Frank Ntilikina steal-and-breakaway-dunk. The Celtics quickly chopped into the lead, though, cutting it to four after an 8-0 run. New York built the lead back up to double-digits with a 6-0 run but Boston (26-9) eventually brought it to within two late in the quarter before Kanter's put-back dunk as the first half expired.

NOTES: New York C Enes Kanter's 14-point, 10-rebound effort was his 13th double-double of the season, which ranks in the top 20 in the NBA. ... New York heads to Detroit on Friday before returning to Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day for a noon ET matchup with Philadelphia. ... With the win, the Knicks improved to 15-5 at home; they are 2-9 on the road. ... Boston returns home to face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.