Derrick White had 34 factors, together with seven 3-pointers, to guide the Boston Celtics to a 127-102 Recreation 5 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening that saved them alive within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
The Celtics related on 22 3-pointers to put up their first dwelling victory of the sequence and first with out Jayson Tatum following his season-ending Achilles tendon harm.
The Knicks will strive once more to win the sequence Friday in New York. If the Celtics win, Recreation 7 could be in Boston on Monday.
Jaylen Brown added 26 factors and 12 assists. Luke Kornet completed with 10 factors, 9 rebounds and 7 blocks.
The Celtics need to grow to be simply the 14th group in NBA historical past to come back again from a 3-1 deficit in 294 makes an attempt.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 24 factors regardless of briefly leaving the sport late within the first quarter to shut a bloody gash on his face after he took an inadvertent elbow.
Jalen Brunson added 22 factors earlier than fouling out with 7:19 to play within the recreation.
Boston trailed by 9 factors within the first half however closed the third quarter on a 23-9 run and took a 91-76 lead into the fourth. Brunson spent the ultimate 2:45 of the third on the bench after selecting up his fifth foul.
The Celtics saved it going within the ultimate interval, pushing their lead as excessive as 28 factors.
The sport was extremely bodily all through and included a short face-to-face skirmish between Hart and Brown.
That power carried over offensively. The Celtics got here out scorching, getting 5 3s from White and 12 complete within the opening 24 minutes.
However the Knicks held as a lot as a nine-point lead, connecting on eight 3s of their very own and getting 10 second-chance factors. Mitchell Robinson additionally transformed on all 4 of his free throw makes an attempt within the first half, nullifying the series-long intentional foul technique Boston employed on him.
When the half ended, the rating was knotted 59-all.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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