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New York.— The Boston Celtics showed they are still alive in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, after a dominant 115-93 victory over the New York Knicks, with an overwhelming performance from the three-point line that silenced Madison Square Garden.
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Jayson Tatum, with 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Payton Pritchard, with 23 points, led the Celtics' attack. Both made five three-pointers on a night when Boston hit 20 of 40 attempts from long distance, thus regaining their effectiveness after an initial series marked by inconsistency.
The Celtics, who entered Game 3 with the pressure of avoiding a 0-3 series deficit, started hot with six of their first seven three-pointers and dominated the first quarter 36-20. The momentum carried them to a lead of up to 31 points, which the Knicks never managed to overcome.
“You have to beat us four times, not two,” warned Jaylen Brown, who scored 19 points. “This is just the beginning.”
Dominican Karl-Anthony Towns shined in New York's loss with a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 27 units. However, the New York offense was ineffective from the perimeter (5 of 25 in three-pointers) and squandered free throws, including a poor 4 of 12 from Mitchell Robinson, victim of intentional fouls by Boston.
The Celtics, who swept the Knicks in the regular season, will look to tie the series this Monday in the fourth game, also in New York, before returning to the TD Garden for game five on Wednesday.
With this victory, Boston revitalizes its aspirations of returning to the NBA Finals and keeps the fight for the championship alive. The series is 2-1 in favor of the Knicks, but the intensity is just beginning.
