{"id":141099,"date":"2017-12-22T02:02:53","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T07:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=141099"},"modified":"2017-12-22T02:02:53","modified_gmt":"2017-12-22T07:02:53","slug":"beasley-scores-32-carries-knicks-past-celtics-102-93","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2017\/12\/22\/beasley-scores-32-carries-knicks-past-celtics-102-93\/","title":{"rendered":"Beasley scores 32, carries Knicks past Celtics, 102 93"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Michael<\/a>
Michael Beasley started heating up in the third quarter, and he really poured it on the fourth. (Photo by Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA – Michael Beasley, CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NEW YORK \u2014 Michael Beasley started heating up in the third quarter, and he really poured it on the fourth.<\/p>\n

So when did he know he had the hot hand?<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Jan. 9, 1989,\u2019\u2018 Beasley said.<\/p>\n

Yes, Beasley started believing he would make every shot he took on the day he was born.<\/p>\n

He made most of them in the second half Thursday night, when he scored 28 of his season-high 32 points to help the New York Knicks shake off a dismal return by Kristaps Porzingis and beat the Boston Celtics 102-93.<\/p>\n

Beasley went back to the bench with Porzingis back from a knee injury, but he was on the floor in the fourth quarter while Porzingis watched from the sideline as the former No. 2 overall pick punished the Celtics inside and out to help the Knicks pull away.<\/p>\n

Porzingis was 0 for 11 from the field and finished with one point after missing two games with a sore left knee. The \u2018\u2018MVP! MVP!\u2019\u2018 chants he has heard this season instead went to Beasley, who also had 12 rebounds.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I’m just out here doing what I got to do,\u2019\u2018 Beasley said. \u2018\u2018It’s nice to hear but I am pretty sure it’s for KP.\u2019\u2018<\/p>\n

He surpassed the 30 points he scored last Saturday against Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City with a jumper with 1:06 remaining that stopped a little run by Boston and gave New York an eight-point lead. The Knicks held on for their fifth victory in six games.<\/p>\n

The Celtics appeared to be taking control in the third quarter. Kyrie Irving made three 3-pointers and one by Jayson Tatum gave Boston a nine-point lead midway through the period.<\/p>\n

Beasley then made three consecutive Knicks baskets late in the period to keep it close and it was 68-all going to the fourth. It was still tied before Beasley outscored the Celtics 11-4 to give New York an 86-79 lead, and Boston never got closer than six again.<\/p>\n

Asked what changed for his team, coach Brad Stevens responded: \u2018\u2018Beasley made every shot.\u2019\u2018<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018This is something that I don’t lose too much sleep over, to be honest,\u2019\u2018 he added. \u2018\u2018You make it as tough as you possibly can and sometimes guys make baskets and that was the case tonight.\u2019\u2018<\/p>\n

Not for Porzingis, who said his struggles had nothing to do with his knee.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Not at all. Just wasn’t in rhythm,\u2019\u2018 he said. \u2018\u2018Early on the game just didn’t come to me. I tried to make some passes and I think I did the right thing a lot of times, but I just missed a few of my shots and then was out of the game.\u2019\u2018<\/p>\n

Irving scored 32 points for the Celtics, who played without starter Jaylen Brown because of left Achilles tendon soreness. Tatum added 17 points.<\/p>\n

The Knicks were blown out in Boston to cap their 0-3 start but have since turned things around behind a home-heavy schedule. They have 15 of their 17 victories at Madison Square Garden, where a sellout crowd of 19,812 grew louder with every Beasley basket against the Eastern Conference leaders.<\/p>\n

Boston dropped two in a row for the first time since its 0-2 start.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018It is what it is. It happens,\u2019\u2018 Irving said. \u2018\u2018So for now, presently, where we are, just pick ourselves up and move on to I believe, Chicago (on) Saturday.\u2019\u2018<\/p>\n

TIP-INS<\/p>\n

Celtics: Brown had appeared in 32 of Boston’s 34 games, all starts. Stevens said Brown told the team recently he had been feeling soreness for a little bit and the decision to rest him was the team \u2018\u2018told been bothering him for a little bit couple days ago, just getting out ahead of it. … G Shane Larkin was out with a sore left knee. Stevens said Larkin felt pain during Wednesday’s game and felt worse Thursday so they would send him for testing Friday after they return to Boston.<\/p>\n

Knicks: Enes Kanter, who Stevens said before the game always hurts the Celtics, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. … Coach Jeff Hornacek said Tim Hardaway Jr., out with a lower left leg stress injury, was able to do more shooting and light jumping, but still no running.<\/p>\n

HAYWARD’S HEALTH<\/p>\n

Gordon Hayward, out since breaking his left ankle in the season opener, wrote a blog post titled \u2018\u2018Improving Every Day\u2019\u2018 to provide an update on his recovery and thoughts about the team. Hayward recently had his walking boot removed and is now wearing a brace while he does his rehab.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018The mental side of it is 100% the most difficult ,\u2019\u2018 he wrote.<\/p>\n

SUPER SUB<\/p>\n

Beasley is the first NBA player since starts were recorded in the 1970-71 season to come off the bench and have at least 32 points and 12 rebounds while playing 25 minutes or fewer. He was the first Knicks sub ever with a 32-12 game, according to research provided to the Knicks by Elias.<\/p>\n

UP NEXT<\/p>\n

Celtics: Host Chicago on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

Knicks: At Detroit on Friday night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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