Celtics Beat Knicks, Pull Away in the East; Timberwolves Avert 2nd Straight Loss at Home
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 25 Feb 2024
The Boston Celtics have pulled farther away in the race for the top in the Eastern Conference, with a road 116-102 drubbing of the New Knicks whose position now at fourth remain precarious with the loss.
Meanwhile the Minnesota Timberwolves averted a second straight home loss with a 101-86 victory over a scrappy Brooklyn Nets, placing them temporarily at solo first in the West.
Playing in their home floor at the Madison, the Knicks through Jalen Brunson (38), Donte Divinzencio (12) and Josh Hart (12) tried to keep the game close with the first half ending 62-58 in Boston's favor. But New York is without its other star players Julius Randle and OG Annunoby while Boston is complete with JT (Jason Tatum), JB (Jalen Brown) and KP (Kristap Pozunghis) plus Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford Derrick White and Sam Hauser coming off the bench and contributing their share.
Boston put the game away with a big 35-26 third quarter and coasted along in the final 12 minutes as the Knicks failed to reduce their double digit deficit till the game's end. Brown topped with 30 followed by Porzinghis 20, Tatum 19 and White 13.
Boston at 45-12 is eight won games away from the second running Cleveland Cavaliers and 9 over the Milwaukee Bucks. New York at fourth with 34-23 is barely a game ahead of the slumping Philadelphia 76ers and barely two over the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic.
Minnesota which was defeated at home by Giannis Antetokoumpo and the Bucks yesterday appeared headed for another loss as Brooklyn for three quarters kept the game very close even at times getting a slim lead.
The Timberwolves are without one of their twin tower Rudy Gobert so Karl Anthony Towns had to play the slot to contain Nets' 6-11 center Nick Claxton while contributing his lion's share in points production. They brought up 6-10 Kyle Anderson to help fill the gap and he responded by scoring 12 points and hauling down
9 boards.
Guard Anthony Edwards topped for T-Wolves with 29 with Towns contributing 28 and Mike Conley adding 12. Cam Thomas led the Nets scoring with Mikal Brudges and Claxton.
Minnesota takes temporary lead in the West with 40-17 one won game ahead of the OKC Thunder. (39-17).
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights Locked In for Top Rank's ESPN Boxing Showcase in Las Vegas
Sat, 05 Apr 2025“REVENGE”: SHADY GAMHOUR SEEKS PAYBACK IN REMATCH AGAINST DEVONTAE McDONALD
Sat, 05 Apr 2025Heralded Amateur Star Elijah Lugo Set To Make Pro Debut on Saturday, April 5th in Philadelphia
Sat, 05 Apr 2025Team USA Collects Three Bronze Medals on Day Four in Brazil
Sat, 05 Apr 2025Warriors Buck Pressures, Whip Lakers, 123-116
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Apr 2025May 4: Rohan Polanco-Fabian Maidana Welterweight Showdown & The Return of Emiliano Fernando Vargas Added to Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas ESPN+-Streamed Undercard at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Richard Torrez Jr. and Guido Vianello Ready to Trade Leather in Las Vegas Heavyweight Headliner
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Avoided Kingsley Ibeh Demands his Seat at The Heavyweight Table
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Team USA Advances Two More Boxers to Medal Rounds at World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
Fri, 04 Apr 2025Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Alex Bray Signs Promotional Agreement with Boxlab Promotions
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PRE-SALE TICKETS FOR THE 2025 US OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP AVAILABLE FROM 14 APRIL
Fri, 04 Apr 2025PSME Abu Dhabi overall champion in the PTC-WED in UAE
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Apr 2025The Hard Road of Young Nationalista
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 03 Apr 20255 Pinoy boxers to fight in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 03 Apr 2025Transatlantic Clash II - "Battle at the Bridge"
Thu, 03 Apr 2025