NBA: The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics on Sunday to end their five-game losing streak.© AFP
The New York Knicks snapped their five-game NBA losing streak in emphatic style on Sunday, holding the host Celtics to a season-low total in a 105-75 blowout win. Julius Randle scored 20 points and pulled in 12 rebounds and RJ Barrett added 19 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who spoiled the season debut of Celtics All-Star guard Kemba Walker, missing the first 11 games with a left knee injury. Walker left in the third quarter with an apparent rib injury, but said he was happy to be back.
“It was really nice to be there,” Walker said. “I forgot how good it feels to be there.”
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points as Eastern Conference leader Boston remained without Jayson Tatum, who was in Covid-19 quarantine.
The Knicks never trailed, pushing their lead to 11 in the first quarter and 15 in the second.
They opened the second half with a 10-0 scoring burst and led by 37 before it was over.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that despite his team’s losing streak, he liked what he was seeing in practice.
“I like the approach and I like the attitude of the guys today,” Thibodeau said. “A lot of guys stepped up and played really well today.”
Celtics coach Brad Stevens, meanwhile, said the game was not representative of Boston.
“We had a clunker,” Stevens said. “Try to keep as few of them as you can.”
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