The rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals did not disappoint, as the tension was high during the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks game at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
Mikal Bridges had the hot hand for the New York Knicks, as he pumped in 35 points on 12-for-17 shooting from the field, including eight three-pointers. The 29-year-old swingman taunted the Boston Celtics’ bench several times, but the hosts didn’t lose their composure, as head coach Joe Mazzulla brushed it off.
“I don’t mind that stuff. I like it. It’s part of the game. (It) keeps me going, and I thought the guys handled it well,” Mazzulla said of Bridges chirping via SNY.
“I think he’s a hell of a coach. They got guys that are gonna play hard and smart. They have a lot of talent. I know they got guys banged up or not here, but they got next man up,” Bridges said of Mazzulla via Celtics on CLNS.
Boston Celtics News: Joe Mazzulla lauds Jaylen Brown’s poise in win vs. New York Knicks
The Boston Celtics endured a slow start against the New York Knicks, but they eventually won the game, as Jaylen Brown went off for a game-high 42 points, four rebounds, and four assists on 16-for-24 shooting from the field and 8-for-9 from the free throw line.
“He never wavers in the poise or the mindset that he has,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said of Brown via SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell. “He does a great job of that regardless of how it’s going.”
“I thought tonight he did a great job just taking what the defense gave him, but then also making plays for others. And he played against three different coverages tonight, and I thought he was really good,” he concluded.
