Knicks Nip Celts (Again): New York 109-Boston 107

[wfcooper@tiac.com (Bill Cooper)]

     The Celts played a tenacious game and they had two chances to tie
or take the lead in this game in the last 8.4 seconds.  But Antoine
Walker's driving lay-up bounced off the rim (actually he was blatantly
fouled by Ewing).  After Oakley missed two free throws, Todd Day tried
a three pointer to win the game, but it also bounced off the rim with
the horn already sounded.  Dee Brown went to the hospital for
precautionary X-rays, after he hyperextended his toe in the third
quarter.
     As has been the case in so many games recently, the Knicks
atarted off with their center, Patrick Ewing, guarding Eric Williams.
E.W., in contrast to his normal play, was absolutely unhesitant in
going up for the jumper.  He scored the Celtics first 4 points of the
game on crisp jumpers.  With Williams scoring 7 of the first 10 Celtic
points they grabbed a 10-6 lead.  The Celts held a 25-22 lead with
about 3:00 left in the period, but the Knicks went on an 8-4 run to
take a 30-29 lead at the end of the period.  Williams scored 15 in the
first quarter.
     Dee Brown opened the second quarter with a 3 pointer and the
Celts scored the first 7 of the period to take a 36-30 lead.  The
Knicks came back and scored 6 straight to tie the game.  With 2
minutes left in the period, the Knicks held a 55-49 lead.  The Celt
scored the last 4 points of the half to pull to within 2 at 55-53.
    The Knicks tried to put the pesky Celts out of their (the Knick's)
misery in the third and got their lead up to ten points at 77-67.  By
this time though the Knicks had switched Ewing onto Walker, and
Antoine responded with a strong effort in the third.  The Celts came
back and got the Knicks margin down to 6 at the end of the period
(84-78).
     The Knicks put the heat on the Celts early in the 4th and got
their margin back up to ten at 92-82.  Even though the Celts kept
pushing the Knicks still had a 102-93 lead with 5:00 left in the game.
But the Celtics turned up the pressure on the Knicks and began to get
some turnovers.  They went on a 9-2 run to pull to within 2 at
104-102.  After Ewing hit one out of two free throws, Todd Day (who
had 13 in the 4th quarter) hit a three to tie the game.  Ewing hit
another free throw and then the Knicks sent Walker to the line.
Antoine hit both free throws, and the Celts had the lead for the first
time since the score was 40-38 (21.4 seconds left).  But on the next
Knicks possession, New York swung the ball around the perimeter until
Chris Childs got, and hit an open three (his only basket of the game:
Celts trail by 2 109-107).  With 8.4 seconds left on the clock, Walker
got the ball at the top of the circle and drove to his left around
Ewing.  After Ewing rode Walker all the way down the  lane (while the
refs swallowed their whistles),  Walker took a lay-up/hook which
rattled of the rim.  Oakley was fouled as soon as he gathered in the
rebound, but missed both free throws.  With just 1.8 seconds left Fox
inbounded the ball to Day who dribbled two steps in and launched a
very high arcing trey, that caromed of the back board and then barely
missed going through the hoop.  Knicks win 109-107.
     The Celts outrebounded the Knicks by 1, 37-36, had 6 more steals
(13-7) and had 3 fewer turnovers.  As a result the Celts tried 7 more
field goals but made 3 fewer.  Obviously the Knicks shot much better
from the field, .584-.500.  the reason that the Celts were close was
that they hit 18-23 from the free throw line while the Knicks were
11-22.  The Celtics starters outscored the Knick's 94-78, but the
Knicks got big contributions of the bench as Wallace and Starks scored
31 points in 32 minutes of playing time.

Lineups- Celts- Wesley, Day, Fox, Williams, Walker
         Knicks- Childs, Houston, Johnson, Oakley, Ewing

Players- Wesley's mini-slump continues.  He had 13 assist and 4
steals, but he also and 6 turnovers and shot 4-14 from the field,
including  0-5 from three point range.  I really can't see anything
wrong with him, although is does seem like he's not getting any
elevation on his jump shot.

Walker- Antoine just seems to be hitting his stride.  27 points on
11-19 from the field, 5-6 from the line, 16 boards, 3 steals and 4
turnovers (ulp).  Several times in the game he gathered rebounds and
just flew up the court.  And neither Oakley or Ewing had a chance
against him on the drive.  Tonight Walker looked like every bit of his
#6 pick and then some.

Williams- Hit his first 7, though he quieted down after that.  The
Knicks were in a real quandary tonight.  Whomever they played Ewing
against just blew right past him or shot over him if Patrick sagged
off.  Williams had 20 points and 1 board in 40 minutes.  Late in the
game M.L. was putting Conlon in on offense and Williams in on offense.

=46ox- another very conservative game for Rick as he had 18 points on
7-10 shooting, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 4 steals in 38 minutes.  Held
Larry Johnson to 8 points (L.J. is a shadow of a shadow of his former
self).

Day- Actually was playing a rather poor game, until he erupted in the
fourth.  Scored 17 points, 6 boards (second on the team), and 4
assists (had another couple really dandy passes tonight).  Took some
poor shots early (including one trey, I swear was from 30 feet).

Brown- I thought that Dee was extremely impressive in the first half.
His first shot (a three) was the best looking jumper I've ever seen
him take.  He wound up and got really good follow through and a nice
arc on the ball.  Later in the quarter, Day hit him (on an inbounds
play) an a spectacular alley-oop.  So it was just natural (given the
way things have gone for the Celts this year) that in the third,  as
Dee was driving for the basket, he all of a sudden pulled up lame.  He
couldn't put any pressure on his left foot at all, and hobbled off the
court and into the locker room.  Dee had 10 points, 4 boards and 2
steals in 20 minutes.

Conlon- Played hard, though not as effectively as recently.  He scored
4 and had 3 rebounds in 16 minutes.  Did a pretty decent job against
Ewing, at least he got under Patrick's skin a little.

Coaching- M.L. looked pretty good as coach and G.M. this evening.  His
players did everything they possibly could, and his draft picks from
the last two years looked great.  The Celts even had fairly decent
execution down the stretch.  For the first time this year, we really
saw Walker and Williams exploit their abilities on offense.  If they
keep playing this way Antoine and Eric could average 20 apiece through
the end of the season.

This makes the Celtic's record for the season 9-31.  They play again
tomorrow night in Miami.

Bill Cooper
wfcooper@tiac.com        =20