Knicks may finally get by Celtics if they can…
MIAMI — If the Knicks can keep it close, they maintain the benefit as a result of of their level guard.
And that’s additionally true, most importantly, in opposition to the Celtics.
With Jalen Brunson performing biweekly renditions of Captain Clutch, the Knicks have reworked into the league’s prime staff in essentially the most pressurized conditions.
The NBA defines “clutch time” as the ultimate 5 minutes of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation when the rating is within 5 factors.
The Knicks are elite in that class, although not fairly the best as a result of of Cleveland.
But if you dive deeper into the stress, New York is unmatched.
When the result’s actually on the road — when there are two minutes or fewer remaining and the rating is within two factors — the Knicks win 80 p.c of the time (12-3) whereas taking pictures a ridiculous 63 p.c from the sector and 56 p.c on 3-pointers.
No different staff is close.
The Celtics, for example, are 8-9 in these video games whereas taking pictures 41 p.c from the sector and 32 p.c on 3s.
Jalen Brunson celebrates after a Knicks’ 3-point basket during the fourth quarter of their 114-113 win over the Grizzlies on Feb. 28, 2025. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
They stay the favourite to win the championship with essentially the most full beginning 5, however, if there’s a cause to criticize Boston during its five-year stretch of dominance, it’s melting within the clutch.
That wasn’t related final 12 months because the Celtics steamrolled via the postseason, however we noticed collapses in opposition to the Heat in 2023 and the Warriors in 2022 because the offense devolved into iso ball with Jayson Tatum chucking.
Friday night time felt like a window into the Knicks’ best hope if they face Boston within the second spherical.
In Memphis, Brunson was again navigating profitable time with the nippiness of a poolside mojito. He buried a go-ahead trey with 24 seconds left and fed OG Anunoby for the winner about 5 seconds earlier than the buzzer.
OG Anunoby celebrates after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer within the closing seconds of the Knicks’ 114-113 win over the Grizzlies on March 1, 2025. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
It was the most recent show of confidence from the Clutch Player of the Year frontrunner.
“We just know if we’re in a close game, he’s one of the few guys in the league where you just make sure it’s close, and then let him go to work,” Josh Hart mentioned.
Simultaneously in Boston, the Celtics had been collapsing after taking a 25-3 lead in opposition to Cavaliers.
They managed simply 16 factors within the fourth quarter of the 123-116 defeat, with Tatum scoring 46 total however simply six within the ultimate period.
In a collection between the Knicks and Celtics — which is the projected second spherical — Tatum is the best participant.
But within the ultimate two minutes of every recreation, Brunson is the best choice to hold the winner.
The clutch gene, as Brunson defined not too long ago, was handed down from his mom, Sandra, who all the time stored the purpose guard centered on essentially the most important image whereas his father pushed towards basketball greatness.
The drawback is the Knicks haven’t been close in any respect this season within the Boston matchups.
They’ve been blown out thrice, with the encouraging moments so sparse the Knicks gamers grasped at a transient and failed third-quarter comeback final week as hope they’re headed in the fitting direction in opposition to the division rival.
Brunson hasn’t had an alternative to strap on the cape in crunch time. There gained’t be one other in opposition to the Celtics till April 8, after which, maybe, within the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Until then, the Knicks have a lot of time to get higher by incorporating Mitchell Robinson. Coincidentally, their subsequent recreation Sunday in opposition to the Heat is on the website of Brunson’s worst clutch second within the NBA, when he dedicated a game-ending turnover in Miami that eradicated New York from the 2023 playoffs.
Virtually ever since, Brunson’s been Captain Clutch and now’s the best cause to consider the Knicks may pull off glory in opposition to mighty Boston.
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