Celtics dominate Knicks, whose struggles vs. best groups proceed in 118-105 loss

The Knicks’ 118-105 defeat Sunday on the Boston Celtics saved New York winless in opposition to the Jap Convention’s best two groups, following this previous Friday’s 142-105 loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland with any other failed take a look at.TakeawaysThe Knicks (37-20) want extra from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, particularly in opposition to heightened festival, for his or her postseason to ultimate past the second one around. Bridges — got via New York in an early-July deal that despatched 5 first-round selections to the Nets, was once a nonfactor on each ends, together with 14 issues on 6-of-13 capturing throughout 28 mins. Anunoby — within the first season of a five-year, $212.5 million contract — was once quiet offensively, scoring 10 issues on 2-of-7 capturing over 35 mins, whilst suffering to comprise Jayson Tatum (game-high 25 issues). The Knicks invested some distance an excessive amount of into Bridges and Anunoby for them to position up a lot of these video games in opposition to groups just like the second-seeded Celtics (41-16).Alongside the ones strains, New York wishes extra lend a hand round Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities if it desires to in point of fact grasp with Boston and Cleveland. Brunson and Cities got here alive within the Knicks’ 39-25 0.33 quarter, however that was once short-lived. After New York lower the deficit to 89-85 with Cities’ triple on the fourth quarter’s 11:32 mark, the Celtics’ 16-4 run into the 7:26 level created sufficient respiring room for Boston to tug away. The Knicks simply didn’t have sufficient to compare the Celtics, whose complete beginning 5 scored in double figures.To that time, Cities left the sport for Treasured Achiuwa with 8:28 left within the fourth quarter after an obvious left knee damage. Cities totaled 24 issues on 9-of-20 capturing whilst including 18 rebounds in 41 mins, returning to the sport on the fourth quarter’s 4:12 mark. Brunson, in the meantime, scored 22 issues on 9-of-19 capturing via 37 mins. Even supposing Josh Hart just about added a triple-double on 20 issues, 11 rebounds and 9 assists in 40 mins, New York’s Brunson-Cities reliance and loss of contributions around the board come to mild when the stakes are upper in opposition to deeper groups comparable to Boston.The Knicks are winless in opposition to the Cavaliers and Celtics, with 4 of the 5 losses coming via double digits. New York opened the season with a 132-109 loss in Boston Oct. 22, adopted via a 110-104 defeat in opposition to the Cavaliers six days later. The Celtics overwhelmed the Knicks, 131-104, Feb. 8 at MSG prior to Cleveland passed New York the aforementioned 37-point blowout. Time is operating out for Tom Thibodeau and corporate to turn that they are able to grasp with their upper-echelon foes.Who is the MVP?Cities, who adopted a gradual get started via scoring 14 of his team-high 24 issues within the third-quarter comeback.What is nextThe Knicks go back to The Lawn for Wednesday’s 7 p.m. recreation with the Philadelphia 76ers, who’re 20-36 and feature misplaced seven directly video games — together with Saturday’s 105-103 defeat in opposition to Brooklyn.