12-21-2019, 01:00 AM
BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics blew out the New York Knicks the last time they met. Isaac Bonga Jersey . This one may have been more rewarding for Celtics coach Brad Stevens. "I wouldnt want to go through it again, but thats exactly what our team needed," the first-year NBA coach said on Friday night after Boston blew a 17-point lead and then came back to beat the Knicks 90-86. "We needed to have a lead, lose it, be backed up against the wall and figure out a way to win." Avery Bradley scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a 3-pointer with 2:38 to play to give the Celtics the lead for good. Jared Sullinger had 19 points and six rebounds, all but one basket in the first half when the Celtics opened a 17-point lead, and Courtney Lee scored 18 points to help Boston snap a two-game losing streak and hold onto first place in the woeful Atlantic Division. Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and Andrea Bargnani had 22 for the Knicks. But Anthony missed a jumper that could have tied it after Bradley gave Boston the lead, and then he was blocked by Jeff Green with a minute to play. "Carmelo got going like Carmelo can get going, and it didnt really matter who was guarding him," Stevens said. "But Jeff went to a different level in the last eight minutes. And that was encouraging to see, because I really thought he did a great job." Kenyon Martin had eight points and seven rebounds before leaving struggling to the bench in pain with about 9 minutes left with an abdominal injury. He did not return. Other than Amare Stoudemire, who scored 18, the Knicks bench totalled four points as they lost for the third time in four games and their 12th in their last 15. "Our bench guys, theyve got to feel good about coming into the game and playing and producing," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. "Our bench is just as important as the guys who start the game. Theyve got to understand that and be ready when they come in." The victory came five days after the Celtics led the Knicks by as many as 45 points in New York in a 114-73 victory that was the biggest blowout in the NBA this season. This one seemed headed the same way when Boston went on a 21-2 run at the end of the first quarter and start of the second to open a 17-point lead, but the Knicks chipped it down to six at the half and then tied it at 59 with 7:15 left in the third on Iman Shumperts 3-pointer. The Knicks had an 11-point lead before Boston scored 10 in a row, getting 3-pointers from Vitor Faverani and Bradley to make it a one-point game. New York led 84-81 when Brandon Bass, who had 10 points and eight rebounds, made a basket and then Jordan Crawford hit Bradley for a 3-pointer that put Boston ahead with 2:38 to play. After trading misses, Crawford found Faverani underneath to make it 88-84, and Green blocked Anthony with 1 minute to play. Bargnani hit a jumper from the foul line to make it a two-point game, but Green drove to the basket on J.R. Smith and made a right-handed layup from the left side of the basket as Stoudemire unsuccessfully flailed at the ball. Green missed the free throw, but Anthony missed an off-balance 3-pointer at the other end with 4 seconds left and Bradley grabbed the rebound. "You have to realize youre away, on the road and these teams arent going to give up," Smith said. "This team is No. 1 in our division for a reason." Notes: Boston first-round draft pick Kelly Olynyk returned after missing 10 games with an ankle injury. He had four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes, and also one highlight blocked shot... NY PG Raymond Felton missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring that is expected to keep him out two to three weeks. Shumpert, who is nursing a bruised left knee, played 23 minutes and scored three points. Wali Jones Jersey .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Falcons by 3 1/2RECORD VS. Wizards Jerseys 2021 . Messier, who had been a special assistant to Rangers general manager Glen Sather, announced Thursday in a statement that he is resigning in order to "expand the game of hockey in the New York area by developing the Kingsbridge National Ice Center. https://www.cheapwizardsonline.com/ . Rockies manager Walt Weiss was unhappy, too. Weiss addressed the issue in a 15-minute meeting with his pitcher and catcher after the Rockies gave up 14 hits and lost 10-1. De La Rosa lasted only 4 1-3 innings and allowed five runs in his first opening-day start.Winnipeg Jets 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (Jets 35-34-10, 18-18-4 road) – After getting mathematically eliminated from the playoff race Thursday, the Jets talked about finishing the season playing the right way, establishing good habits and playing for each other. Considering everything, it was a very solid effort and a character win by the Jets. The loss leaves the Leafs out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, in what was their final home game of the season. Jets played without Evander Kane, coachs decision, then lost the services of Dustin Byfuglien late in the second with an upper body injury. Jets got great efforts from pretty much the entire lineup. The Leafs opened the scoring, Phil Kessel with his 37th on a great pass from Tyler Bozak. Bryan Little with his 23rd tied the game less than four minutes later, assists to Michael Frolik and Mark Stuart. Little had his seven game point streak snapped Thursday, but with the goal is 3-6-9 in his last nine. The Leafs took the lead on Nazem Kadris 20th of the year. It was an easy open net tap in power play goal after Ondrej Pavelec misplayed a dump in, had it go off his stick to the front of the net making it 2-1 Leafs. A big goal for the Jets came in the dying seconds of the first as Jacob Trouba out fought James Van Reimsdyk for a loose puck in front of the Leafs net for his 10th of the year. Frolik and Andrew Ladd drew assists. Shots in the first were 12-8 Jets. The second period was all Jets, despite having to kill off two penalties in the first half of the period. On their second power play in the back half of the period, Toby Enstrom with his 10th of the year gave the Jets their first lead of the game. Enstrom walked the line from left to right and fired a screened shot past James Reimer. The goal ties a single season career high for Enstrom, assists went to Ladd and Blake Wheeler. SShots in the second period were14-7 in favour of the Jets. Terry Dischinger Jersey. When the Leafs did get chances, Pavelec was there to shut the door. Jets continued their strong play in the third, Coach Paul Maurice having to do some juggling with no Byfuglien. The Jets continued to be first on loose pucks and a great play by Wheeler, using his speed to set up Olli Jokinen for his 18th of the year making it 4-2. Jokinen has now scored in back to back games. The Leafs pulled Reimer with 2:45 remaining but a couple key saves from Pavelec and Wheeler using his speed to negate an icing call, helped the Jets close out the game. Shots in the third were 15-10 Jets and 41-25 Jets on the game. Jim Slater in his 499th NHL game, all with this organization, was key in the face-off department, winning nine of 15. Ladd, Wheeler and Frolik all had two point nights. Since December 1st Wheeler has 50 points in 51 games. He has 17 points in his last 14 games. Jacob Trouba at 26:10 again led the Jets in ice time. After missing the net 18 times Thursday, the Jets missed the net another 17 times tonight. The Jets directed a total of 71 shots at Reimer. Coach Maurice was "really happy" for his team. "We competed for pucks, played with tenacity, the bench was great. We got a bad break on their second goal but the bench stayed up beat and kept talking." Coach Maurice would not elaborate on Kane not playing, other than "coachs decision." "With Byfuglien out we had a hole in our forward lines. Eric Tangradi and Eric ODell gave us some good shifts. Key face-off wins for Jim Slater. Our team believed what they said, they would play for each other. One thing about this group, they care." Jets are home to Minnesota Monday and Boston Thursday (both TSN Jets, TSN 1290), then close out the season in Calgary Friday (TSN Jets, TSN 1290). ' ' '