Game Day: Knicks @ Celtics, 4/7/21
The Knicks continue their mini road trip, this time in Bahston. Can they take advantage of the middling Celtics on the second game of a back-to-back?
Ah yes, here we are again, at another “how will the Knicks respond to [heartbreaking loss to some team]?” juncture.
The Knicks, of course, blew a double-digit lead to the very shorthanded Nets on Monday night, an unfortunate trend of late where they seem to think they’re good enough to just get a lead in the third quarter and coast to victory. These Knicks just aren’t that team (yet).
On paper, these Celtics should be leagues ahead of the Knicks. I’d be lying if I said I’ve watched a ton of Boston Celtics basketball this year, but based off their record, it seems like they have a similar problem to the Knicks as far as not playing as well as they should on any given night.
The Celtics will be at mostly pre-trade deadline strength tonight, presumably, just missing Evan Fournier thanks to COVID protocols. That means a big test for RJ Barrett vs. Jayson Tatum and/or Jaylen Brown, whichever assignment Reggie Bullock doesn’t draw. Or maybe he’ll end up on Marcus Smart, I dunno.
Honestly, the guy I most worry about in this game is Luke Kornet. He’s been averaging 15 minutes and a somewhat efficient five points per game since joining the Celtics, and this feels like the type of game where he’ll just come in and drop a 20-piece on his old team. Just a hunch.
That said, the Knicks seem to (last week notwithstanding) respond pretty well to losses that push them back under .500. So I think they’ll bring the heat tonight, particularly Julius Randle. Knicks by five.
The game’s on MSG at 7:30 tonight. Feel free to hang with us here or on Twitter!
