BOSTON — Let’s be clear on this: These 2024-25 Boston Celtics are not scrappy underdogs. Being faced with a 3-1 second-round deficit as they punched in for work Wednesday night was entirely of their own doing, thanks to too many missed 3’s, too little defensive cleverness and, worst of all, a general sluggishness that’s unbecoming of defending NBA champions.
And yet here they are, heading back to New York for Game 6 after their take-that 127-102 victory over the Knicks at TD Garden. And as the hoops world well knows, they did it without Jayson Tatum. Or maybe they did it because of Tatum, using their star player’s season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon to provide an emotional boost to keep this season going.
“Honestly, losing JT is tough, especially for how much work he puts into the game, works on his body, everything he does to compete night after night,” said Derrick White, who stepped up with a 34-point performance. “Seeing him go down is tough, but we have a lot of guys out here who are highly competitive.
“Lot of talent in that room,” White said. “Seeing your brother go down was tough. He texted us today. He’s cheering us on.”
Read more on Kornet, Brown and the Celtics below.
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