Game ID: 22301227
New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 33 41 35 24 133NYK 32 33 30 28 123
BOS vs NYK ScoutingBOS vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 11/26 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 11/20, returns tonight: 15 min (136% of 11)
BACK Kornet back 11/20 after 2, 22 min since (147% of 15)
BACK Brissett back 11/20 after 4, 11 min since (108% of 10)
BOS availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 33 min (98% of 34)
BACK Kornet back 11/20 after 2, 18 min since (119% of 15)
BACK Queta back 11/19 after 12, 10 min since (92% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 11/20 after 4, 11 min since (108% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/01 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Kornet back 11/20 after 2, 18 min since (122% of 15)
BACK Queta back 11/26 after 3, 15 min since (136% of 11)
NEW Hauser 21 to 27 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 12/04 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 34 min since (101% of 34)
BACK Queta back 11/26 after 3, 13 min since (113% of 11)
BOS availability going into 12/08 · 3 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 29 min (101% of 29)
OUT Brissett missed 4 since 11/26, returns tonight: 0 min (3% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Queta back 11/26 after 3, 13 min since (113% of 11)
BOS availability going into 12/12 · 3 days' restOUT Queta missed 2 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (104% of 34)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 29 min since (101% of 29)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 12/04, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 11/28 after 2, 35 min since (103% of 34)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 30 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 0 min since (3% of 10)
BOS availability going into 12/15 · back-to-backOUT Queta missed 4 since 12/04, returns tonight: 18 min (163% of 11)
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 12/12, returns tonight: 16 min (149% of 10)
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BOS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 12/08 after 4, 31 min since (105% of 29)
BACK Queta back 12/15 after 4, 18 min since (163% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 12/08 after 4, 8 min since (76% of 10)
NYK availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT McBride missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 1 min (6% of 21)
OUT Fournier missed 4 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 11/24, returns tonight: 2 min (14% of 12)
BACK Barrett back 11/18 after 3, 28 min since (96% of 30)
BACK Grimes back 11/20 after 2, 22 min since (108% of 20)
NEW Robinson 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Fournier missed 5 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK Barrett back 11/18 after 3, 28 min since (96% of 30)
BACK McBride back 11/28 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 21)
BACK Grimes back 11/20 after 2, 21 min since (105% of 20)
BACK Sims back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 12)
NEW Robinson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/01 · back-to-backOUT Fournier missed 6 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 11/28 after 2, 1 min since (6% of 21)
BACK Grimes back 11/20 after 2, 20 min since (100% of 20)
BACK Sims back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 12)
NEW Robinson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/05 · 3 days' restOUT McBride missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 2 min (12% of 21)
OUT Fournier missed 7 since 11/18, out tonight
OUT Sims missed 2 since 11/30, returns tonight: 3 min (23% of 12)
NEW Robinson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Fournier missed 8 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (9% of 21)
BACK Sims back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 12)
NEW Robinson 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Fournier missed 9 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (9% of 21)
BACK Sims back 11/28 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 12)
NYK availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Fournier missed 10 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/05 after 2, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Sims back 12/05 after 2, 12 min since (97% of 12)
NYK availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Robinson missed 2 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 11 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/05 after 2, 6 min since (31% of 21)
BACK Sims back 12/05 after 2, 14 min since (114% of 12)
NYK availability going into 12/16 · back-to-backOUT Robinson missed 3 since 12/11, out tonight
OUT Fournier missed 12 since 11/18, out tonight
BACK McBride back 12/05 after 2, 5 min since (23% of 21)
BACK Sims back 12/05 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Porziņģis (4 straight). 3 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Randle at 29 and Brunson at 27 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and New York minus-1 and the arc, New York at 40 percent from three to Boston's 35. Call it Boston 114, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
11/26 vs ATL 113-103 — BOS notes
BOS won 113-103. BOS shot 44% (42 of 95) to ATL's 41%, 13 of 47 from three. The glass went 58-43 for them. Tatum led with 34 (11 of 25, 5 of 13 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Brown added 21, White 15. The hinge was Q2, 36-27: a lead of 7 became 16, and the lead reached 20. White was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
11/28 vs CHI 124-97 — BOS notes
BOS won 124-97. BOS shot 52% (47 of 90) to CHI's 43%, 21 of 49 from three, and got to the line 12 times to CHI's 18. BOS turned it over 16 times to CHI's 8, and CHI turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 52-37 for them. Brown led with 30 (12 of 23, 3 of 8 from three); Tatum added 21, Horford 16. The hinge was Q1, 31-20: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/01 vs PHI 125-119 — BOS notes
BOS won 125-119. BOS shot 51% (39 of 77) to PHI's 46%, 16 of 33 from three, and went to the line 36 times to PHI's 23 — 31 points from the stripe to their 17. White led with 21 (5 of 11, 3 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Tatum added 21, Brown 20. The hinge was Q1, 44-36: from level to 8 ahead. BOS trailed 69-72 at the half and won the second half 56-47. White was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/04 @ IND 112-122 — BOS notes
BOS lost 112-119. BOS shot 47% (46 of 97) to IND's 46%, 12 of 41 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 19 fouls committed. BOS turned it over 17 times to IND's 6, and IND turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 56-41 for them. Tatum led with 32 (13 of 26, 2 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Brown added 30, White 18. Q2 was theirs, 31-26, but the other 3 periods went 93-81 against them. Holiday's -15 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 vs NYK 133-123 — BOS notes
BOS won 133-123. BOS shot 53% (48 of 91) to NYK's 50%, 19 of 47 from three, and got to the line 21 times to NYK's 27. BOS turned it over 7 times to NYK's 13. The glass went 34-44 against them. White led with 30 (10 of 16, 6 of 10 from three); Tatum added 25, Porziņģis 21. The hinge was Q2, 41-33: a lead of 1 became 9, and the lead reached 20. White was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/12 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 3 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 22 free throws a game; Mitchell at 25 and Garland at 23 a game. Without Eva. Mobley (2 straight), LeVert (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 37 percent from three to Cleveland's 31 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 104 a night to Boston's 112. Call it Boston 115, Cleveland 108.
12/14 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 24 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Garland at 26 a game. Without Eva. Mobley (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 40 percent from three to Cleveland's 35 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 107 a night to Boston's 114. Call it Boston 116, Cleveland 109.
12/15 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Orlando comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 112, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 28 free throws a game; Banchero at 27 and F. Wagner at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Carter Jr. (18 straight), Fultz (15 straight). 3 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Orlando minus-5 and the arc, Boston at 39 percent from three to Orlando's 30. Call it Boston 115, Orlando 113, Orlando keeping it close.
12/17 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Tatum at 28 and Brown at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 30 from three, 25 free throws a game; Banchero at 24 and F. Wagner at 19 a game. Without Carter Jr. (19 straight), Fultz (16 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Boston at 38 percent from three to Orlando's 30 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-2 a night and Orlando minus-3. Call it Boston 117, Orlando 110.
11/28 vs CHA 115-91 — NYK notes
NYK won 115-91. NYK shot 47% (41 of 88) to CHA's 42%, 15 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to CHA's 7 — 18 points from the stripe to their 4. The glass went 54-41 for them. Randle led with 25 (8 of 15, 2 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Quickley added 23, Hart 17. The hinge was Q1, 29-16: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 26. Randle was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
11/30 vs DET 118-112 — NYK notes
NYK won 118-112. NYK shot 47% (41 of 88) to DET's 53%, 16 of 41 from three, and went to the line 28 times to DET's 17 — 20 points from the stripe to their 11. NYK turned it over 11 times to DET's 20. Brunson led with 42 (13 of 24, 7 of 12 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Randle added 29, Barrett 15. The hinge was Q1, 31-17: from level to 14 ahead. Brunson was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
12/01 @ TOR 119-106 — NYK notes
NYK won 119-106. NYK shot 50% (45 of 90) to TOR's 44%, 16 of 36 from three. Brunson led with 22 (9 of 21, 3 of 8 from three); DiVincenzo added 21, Randle 20. The hinge was Q3, 33-20: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Quickley was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/05 @ MIL 122-146 — NYK notes
NYK lost 122-146. NYK shot 49% (43 of 87) to MIL's 60%, 7 of 23 from three, and went to the line 33 times to MIL's 19 — 29 points from the stripe to their 13. Randle led with 41 (14 of 19, 11 of 12 at the line); Brunson added 24, Barrett 23. Q2 was theirs, 37-38, but the other 3 periods went 108-85 against them. Randle's -21 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ BOS 123-133 — NYK notes
NYK lost 123-133. NYK shot 50% (44 of 88) to BOS's 53%, 15 of 37 from three, and went to the line 27 times to BOS's 21 — 20 points from the stripe to their 18. NYK turned it over 13 times to BOS's 7, and BOS turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 44-34 for them. Brunson led with 23 (8 of 17, 0 of 5 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Barrett added 23, Randle 20. Q4 was theirs, 28-24, the deficit cut from 14 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 109-95 against them. Brunson's -21 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 vs TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Randle at 27 and Brunson at 25 a game. 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 19 free throws a game; Siakam at 23 and Barnes at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Dick (6 straight), Freeman-Liberty (20 straight), Young (11 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 39 percent from three to Toronto's 30 and the line, where New York takes 25 free throws a game to Toronto's 19. Call it New York 116, Toronto 110.
12/13 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 122, shooting 44 percent and 30 from three, 20 free throws a game; George at 17 and Sexton at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Markkanen (8 straight), Juzang (5 straight), Sensabaugh (22 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 43 from three, 25 free throws a game; Randle at 29 and Brunson at 26 a game. One day's rest.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 43 percent from three to Utah's 30 and the turnovers, Utah giving it away 17 times a game to New York's 13. Call it New York 119, Utah 114.
12/15 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 112, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 30 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 28 a game. Without Allen (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 126, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Randle at 29 and Brunson at 23 a game. Without Robinson (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 112 a night to New York's 126. Call it Phoenix 117, New York 114, New York keeping it close.
12/16 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Harden at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Tucker (8 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 130, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 29 free throws a game; Randle at 30 and Brunson at 28 a game. Without Robinson (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 109 a night to New York's 130. Call it the Clippers 121, New York 112.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
NYKDD D. DiVincenzo
IH I. Hartenstein
IQ I. Quickley
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
JR J. Randle
MR M. Robinson
QG Q. Grimes
RB R. Barrett
BOS/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Derrick White's 30 points carries Celtics past Knicks 133-123; Boston's Brown ejected with 2 Ts
BOSTON -- — Derrick White scored 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 21 in his return to the lineup after missing four games with a strained left calf to lead the Boston Celtics to a 133-123 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.
Jayson Tatum added 25 points, six rebounds and five assists for Boston, which improved to 10-0 at home. Celtics forward Jaylen Brown scored 17 points before he was ejected after getting two technical fouls midway into the final quarter.
“To be honest with you I don't know,” Brown said when asked why he was tossed. “For my first career ejection, I thought some guy would punk it up, go to the ground and not some over-emotional ref who had a bad day."
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla seemed bothered by the quick ejection.
“I've been on the sidelines for five years and I've seen players act and say things that are way more disrespectful than that,” he said.
Brown felt it was overreaction on the second T by official Jason Goldenberg, who whistled him for both.
“I'm on the bench, talking from the sideline, he can't even hear anything I'm saying," Brown said. “He called a tech from across the court. ... To have to deal with somebody that has emotions that's too involved with whatever else is going. ... I ain't going to comment on officiating in general, but I am going to comment on this guy in particular tonight. I thought that was (expletive).”
Crew chief Mark Lindsay told a pool reporter that “the second technical foul was called for a wave off directed at the official, which under the respect of the game guidelines is considered an overt gesture and an unsportsmanlike act.”
RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points apiece. Julius Randle added 20 and Immanuel Quickley had 17 for New York, which dropped its second straight.
Porzingis wasted little time getting going offensively, scoring Boston’s first eight points with a dunk and consecutive 3-pointers.
The Celtics and TD Garden crowd had a brief scare late in the second quarter when Tatum made a breakaway dunk, landed awkwardly and went to the floor on the baseline. But he got up quickly.
The Celtics shot 58.3% and led 74-65 at halftime. The Knicks shot 53.5% in the first half.
Boston started hot in the third quarter, connecting on nine of its initial 13 attempts — including five 3-pointers — and pushing the lead to 99-79 on Brown’s 3 from the top of the key.
Criticized by coach Tom Thibodeau for their weak defense after a blowout loss to Milwaukee in the NBA’s In-Season Tournament quarterfinals earlier in the week, the Knicks gave up 109 points through three quarters on Friday.
“It's problematic. We've got to fix our defense,” he said. “It starts individually, containment of the ball, better ball pressure, better challenging the shots in every aspect.”
Brunson sustained an undisclosed injury late in the game. Thibodeau didn't have any word from the medical staff.
Boston’s strong ball movement led to numerous open looks on 3s and when it wanted to get the ball inside, New York offered little resistance.
After Brown was tossed, the Knicks sliced their deficit to 119-112 before Boston went back up by 11 points on a basket and two free throws by White.