RJ Barrett banks in 3 at buzzer, Knicks beat Celtics 108-105
NEW YORK (AP) — RJ Barrett banked in a 3-pointer on the buzzer to give the New York Knicks a 108-105 comeback win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
Ivan Fournier scored a career-high 41 points, and the Knicks overcame a 24-point, second-quarter deficit. The teams will finish in a home-to-house set in Boston on Saturday night.
Jason Tatum scored 36 points for Boston. He tied it on a long step-back jumper with just a second to play. The Knicks were inbound after a timeout, and Barrett banks in a long-range shot for the win.
"It was a tough shot, but every time I shoot I feel it going in," Barrett said. "To be honest, I didn't even see it because I fell. I didn't see it going in, but just from everyone else's reaction I could tell. So it was good."
Julius Randall added 22 points for New York, Emmanuel Quickley added 16 and Barrett added 13. The Knicks did not take the lead until more than two minutes were left.
“It was not about the last play again. It was everything leading up to it,” said Celtics coach Ime Udoka. “We need some leadership. There is someone who can calm us down and not rattle when everything starts going a little south. I think it snowballs between our people. ,
Robert Williams' tip-in gave the Celtics their final 24-point lead with 1:16 in the first half, before the Knicks ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to draw 63-47. Consistent 3-pointers by Barrett and Fournier brought the Knicks to within 10 to open the second half.
The Celtics re-established a 20-point lead, 81-61, on Schröder's 3-point play, with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter. Fournier followed with back-to-back 3s, and the Knicks pulled off 82-73 with 1:44 remaining on Quickley's 3-point play.
Randall's driving layup with 23 seconds put the Knicks 84-77 into the final quarter. Boston extended its lead to eight points, but Fournier's long jumper tied it at 96-96 with 4:04 remaining.
The Knicks took their first lead, 99-98, with 2:06 on Fourniers 3.
After a three-point play from Tatum and a dunk from Mitchell Robinson, Quickley's floater gave the Knicks a 103-101 lead with 44 seconds remaining.
In Boston's next possession, Schroder overturned the ball, and Barrett made one of two free throws with 18 seconds remaining. Marcus Smart made two free throws with 15 seconds left, and Randall made one with 12 seconds remaining. Tatum made his jumper before Barrett finished.
"Flexibility. It was special to our team," Randley said. "We kept fighting. We certainly didn't want to go into a hole, but we found a way to win the game."
Tip-ins:
Celtics: Nick coach Tom Thibodeau was an assistant to the Celtics from 2007–10. ... Boston has lost three straight games at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks: Ryan Archidiacono was signed to a 10-day contract before the game but has sprained his left ankle.
And the season is not half done
Both teams have played 39 matches this season, but no one has appeared in each one. Fournier and Alec Burks have lost only one game for New York, while Smart has played a team-leading 36 games for Boston. Thirteen Knicks have started at least one game, while the Celtics have started 11.
