Defending champion is out! Brown leaves 6 fouls, Hart triple-double, Towns 21+11, Knicks set a record

Editor|Old Kankan Ball

On May 17, the NBA 2024-25 playoffs ushered in the Eastern Conference Focus Battle. The New York Knicks returned to home court to face the Boston Celtics. In the first five games, the Celtics suffered a 20-point reversal, and they are currently behind the Knicks with a score of 2-3. The most important thing is that the core Tatum accidentally suffered a rupture in the Achilles tendon in the G4 game, which inadvertently inspired the Celtics' fighting spirit. Six players in the team scored in double digits and won the life-and-death battle between G5. However, although G5 won a game at home, the team is still in a passive situation and will go home if they lose another game. "The outside world is looking down on us now," Jaylen Brown said in an interview. "Obviously, Tatum's experience has a great impact on us, but we still have to continue fighting. I believe this team, don't exclude us so early."

Obviously, the thickness of the Celtics is indeed the only one in the league. G5's big defeat also puts pressure on the Knicks. Although they still hold two match points, if G6 can't beat the opponent at home and is dragged into the tiebreak battle, it will not be so easy for the Celtics to deal with when they return to their home court. Before the game, US media ESPN also gave a prediction of the winning rate of today's game: the Knicks' winning rate continues to increase to 57.9% (compared with G1, only 32.4%), while the Celtics' winning rate is only 42.1%. Obviously, US media is more optimistic that the Knicks can end this round of the series today. In terms of starting lineup, Achouva is suspected of playing on the Knicks, and the starting five-man teams lined up by coach Thibodeau are: Towns, Brunson, Bridges, OG Anunobi, Hart; on the Celtics, Tatum is absent, and the starting lineup is: White, Jaylen Brown, Holiday, Cornett, and Horford.

The first quarter started, and Towns smashed Horford's difficult drift to hit the board, and the Knicks took the lead. Brown received the ball from the top of the arc and scored a knife, scoring the first goal of the Celtics. Bridges made a three-pointer with a bow and shot, and immediately returned. Towns hit a long three-pointer after stuttering on the logo and hitting a three-pointer. After stumbled on Holiday, he was accidentally called for an offensive foul and scored an invalid goal. This is really a bit far-fetched. Jaylen Brown passed Bridges with a fast break and scored 2+1 with a layup on the basket. The scores of both sides rose alternately. Platinum suddenly hugged Robinson and used the tactic of killing again. The latter made one of two free throws. Brown made a three-pointer with a quick stop and retreated for a long time. The score was already in double digits, struggling to hold on to the point difference. Towns and Bridges made three-pointers in a row. After the first quarter, the Knicks led the Celtics 26-20 by 6 points.

In the first quarter, Jaylen Brown played for 12 minutes, made 5 of 8 shots, 2 of 3 three-pointers, and 1 of 1 free throw to score 13 points and 1 rebound.

In addition, the two teams made 24 three-pointers in the first quarter and only scored 6 goals in total, including the Celtics' three-pointers with 3 of 10 and the Knicks' three-pointers with 14 three-pointers, both of which were quite iron.

Back in the second quarter, Brown received the ball from the bottom corner, Robinson quickly assisted in defense and completed the steal, Towns made a counterattack and made a layup, the Knicks led by 13 points, and the Celtics did not score for more than 2 minutes. White passed Bridges with the ball and broke the scoring drought with a layup. Hart broke through and scored 2+1 in a row, and the gap had widened to 20 points. Jaylen Brown scored with great difficulty and hit Anunobi through a pick-and-roll elbow, but the referee called the Celtics' ball. The Knicks decisively challenged and finally successfully changed the offensive foul. Brunson beat Horford and scored a steadily three-pointer. Towns faced the two to assist in defense and made a tough breakthrough, resulting in a 2+1. McBride made another buzzer-beating three-pointer. At the end of the half, the Knicks led the Celtics 64-37 by as many as 27 points.

Half-time data, on the Celtics, Jaylen Brown played for 22 minutes, made 7 of 13 shots, 3 of 6 three-pointers, 1 of 2 free throws, 18 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block, but made 6 mistakes; White, Holiday and Porzingis all performed poorly, with the three making 3 of 18 shots and 1 of 7 three-pointers, of which White made 1 of 7 shots and only scored 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 steal, Holiday also made 1 of 7 shots and scored 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, and Porzingis made 1 of 4 shots and 4 points and 5 rebounds.

On the Knicks' side, Towns scored the team's highest 16 points and 6 rebounds; Brunson scored 5 of 7 shots and scored 11 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.

The side changes again, Anunobi scored a breakthrough and hits back to 2+1, and the Knicks have led by 32 points. Derek White received the ball from the top of the arc, converted a three-pointer and finally narrowed the gap. Currently, he only made 1 of 5 three-pointers. Jaylen Brown broke through and pushed Brunson away with an emergency stop, and was called for an offensive foul. Brunson took the defensive three-pointer and fell, the Knicks led to 30+ again, and the Celtics called timeouts continuously. Jaylen Brown was lit by Brunson when defending and got his sixth foul, but he had no choice but to leave. Towns made another Horford 2+1 at the basket, Anunobi scored two consecutive three-pointers, and the Knicks widened the gap to 41 points.

It is worth mentioning that the Knicks limited the Celtics to only 57 points in the third quarter, setting its lowest score record for the season.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics had already admitted defeat in advance and replaced it with a full substitute. There was no suspense in the game. In the end, the Knicks easily defeated the Celtics at home, eliminated the defending champion 4-2 with a big score and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. In terms of data, on the Celtics, Jaylen Brown left the court with only six fouls in three quarters, scoring 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, and 7 turnovers; White made 3 of 11 to contribute 8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal; Porzingis made 1 of 4 shots and scored 4 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block; Holiday made 1 of 8 shots and scored 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal.

On the Knicks side, Brunson scored 23 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 turnovers; Anunobi scored 23 points, 9 rebounds and 1 assist; Towns scored 21 points, 11 rebounds and 1 steal; Hart contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists economic triple-double data.