If the primary match of Karl -Anthony Cities towards the Celtics as Knick – his beginnings in October – was a failure, then it was a catastrophe.
An evening of complete ineffectiveness. Of some makes an attempt and even fewer manufacturers. From a rebound battle misplaced towards a Boston group lacking its departure middle.
The primary season of the Cities with the Knicks struck a low level on Saturday throughout their embarrassment of 131-104 towards the Celtics within the backyard, when he completed with 9 factors of season on a 3 shot for 8 and 9 rebounds.
He was demoted to questionable earlier than the match with a knee damage, equaled his much less makes an attempt in a match of this marketing campaign, ended with lower than 10 rebounds for the eighth time this yr, and later admitted that he was not 100%.
“I am going to take a look at the band to search out out,” stated Cities when requested how the Celtics restricted his makes an attempt. “I had a good suggestion, nonetheless.”
On Saturday marked the final knee damage occasion in cities – patellar tendinopathy – seem for Knicks in a marketing campaign the place he was additionally pressured to sail in a thumb damage. However the cities, the profitable acquisition which immediately strengthened the power of the Knicks to face groups such because the Celtics, stated following the sport he needed to struggle with the knee damage.
Boston, nonetheless, eradicated its affect virtually totally.
Cities succeeded 12 factors and 7 rebounds within the first match, when the Celtics didn’t have the middle of Kristaps Porzingis, and they didn’t have their second chief chief on Saturday.
As an alternative, a mixture of the previous Knick Luke Kornet (14 factors, 12 rebounds) and Neemias Queta (eight rebounds) helped stabilize the rebound of the Celtics, whereas the cities, which entered the evening, have been categorised n ° 2 within the NBA in rebounds per sport (13.6), I couldn’t set up management.
Boston completed with a bonus of 48-30 on the glass.
“The rebound was problematic to start out,” stated Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. “It was problematic all through.”
From the beginning, the Celtics invaded the cities in assault.
The protection of Queta’s assist close to the appropriate block within the first quarter helped modify a shot. Within the third, simply when the Knicks lower an enormous deficit and the emphatic dunk of the cities obtained them in eight years, he was known as for a visit throughout driving and doubled.
Thibodeau even modified its vary at halftime whereas preserving Miles McBride on the sphere on Treasured Achiuwa to start out the third, hoping to liberate house for cities.
It did not work. Cities solely managed three factors within the final two quarters.
And for the second time this yr towards the Celtics, the Knicks want their second celebrity to supply a efficiency of this caliber alongside Jalen Brunson (36 factors), the cities failed.
“They’ve completed sure issues, however I believe that on the similar time, it is also for us,” stated Brunson. “We aren’t going to win individually and we want him. And I believe that as a teammates, together with myself, know that we simply need to put it in a greater place to succeed. »»
