Derrick White\u2019s 34 points and Luke Kornet\u2019s 7 blocks push Celtics past Knicks 127-102, forcing Game 6 in New York
\n New York
\nDown 3-1 and missing their injured star, the Boston Celtics weren\u2019t ready to fold just yet.
\nWith Jayson Tatum sidelined for the postseason \u2014 and likely next season \u2014 due to a torn Achilles, Boston found unexpected heroes in Derrick White and Luke Kornet to overpower the New York Knicks 127-102 on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
\nWhite exploded for 34 points, hitting 7-of-13 from beyond the arc, while Kornet came off the bench to deliver a defensive clinic with 7 blocks, 10 points, and 9 rebounds on perfect shooting.
\nThe Celtics trimmed the series deficit to 3-2 and will now head to New York for a critical Game 6 on Friday.
\nJaylen Brown added 26 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds in a near triple-double effort, with Payton Pritchard and Jrue Holiday combining for 31 points.
\nBoston broke away in the third quarter with an 11-0 run, sparked by White\u2019s sharp shooting and Pritchard\u2019s timely three-pointers.
\nFor the Knicks, Jalen Brunson put up 22 points but fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, leaving a scoring void New York couldn\u2019t fill.
\nJosh Hart led the team with 24 points and 7 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 19.
\nTensions ran high in a physical contest, punctuated by hard fouls in the first quarter. Hart took an elbow from Kornet that left him bloodied, and earlier, Brown was dropped by an uncalled elbow from Brunson.
\nThe officials reviewed both sequences but ruled common basketball moves.
\nDespite Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is scoring just one point, Kornet\u2019s energy and rim protection neutralised New York\u2019s frontcourt, with OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson all held to single digits.
\nNow, with their backs still against the wall, the Celtics head to Madison Square Garden looking to push this bruising series to a decisive Game 7.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Derrick White\u2019s 34 points and Luke Kornet\u2019s 7 blocks push Celtics past Knicks 127-102, forcing Game 6 in New York New York Down 3-1 and missing their injured star, the Boston Celtics weren\u2019t ready to fold just yet. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the postseason \u2014 and likely next season \u2014 due to a torn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":478858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-478831","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n