Porziņģis scores 26 as Knicks beat Celtics 120-114
Kristaps Porziņģis scored 26 points (16 in the first quarter), and the New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 120-114.
Robin Lopez’s hook shot answered Jae Crowder’s 2 free throws and put the Knicks back ahead for good with 2:21 left in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics got within 114-113 on Isaiah Thomas’ 19-foot jumper with 50 seconds to play, but Jerian Grant answered with 2 free throws, and the Celtics got no closer.
Grant’s jumper with 57.7 seconds left made it 114-111, and his 2 free throws with 17.7 seconds left put it away at 118-113.
During clutch time, the Knicks outscored the Celtics 21-12. Derrick Williams scored 7 of the Knicks’ 21 on 3 for 3 shooting and 1 for 1 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Grant had 6 of his 8 assists off the bench, 1 of them on a basket by Lopez that tied the game and 2 on baskets by Williams and Lopez that put the Knicks ahead.
Arron Afflalo scored 24 points (16 in the paint), and Grant added 16 points and 8 assists off the bench.
For the Celtics, Isaiah Thomas had 34 points and 8 assists but went 1 for 8 from 3, and Crowder added 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jared Sullinger scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks shot 53.1% from the field and 35.0% from 3 to the Celtics’ 48.8% and 31.0%. The Celtics forced 11 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions. Porziņģis fouled out.