The New York Knicks, a team that was the underdogs in the series, managed to pull off a major upset against the Boston Celtics, who were not only the favorites but also the top seeds of the Eastern Conference but fell short against the Boston Celtics Knicks star Jalen Brunson remarkably continued his streak of outstanding stats with his finishing of 33 points. Therefore, he just reached an incredible 35 points in the last five matches of his career, evidence of his spectacular quality and game-changing ability.
Boston Fans Express Discontent
After the game, Celtics fans booed their team out, palpably feeling the hard loss they suffered. Kristaps Porzingis, the Boston Celtics center, admitted to that crowd’s reaction, so he pronounced that his teammates had to get all together and play in a better way as soon as possible. Porzingis expects the team to win, known to be a good source of courage.
Knicks fans after finishing 1-4 against the Celtics, with the 1 being after the Celtics had nothing to play for pic.twitter.com/FPyZwoyQZh
— Alex (@Alexzachary305) April 12, 2024
Coach Mazzulla’s Perspective
The Boston Celtics’ head coach, Joe Mazzulla, playing down those setbacks by the same token, left words that it is as normal to slip to some extent at the end of the regular season after clinching the message number one in the postseason. They portrayed a perspective that is much more practical, he said it is not a good idea to enter playoffs full of confidence and expecting to win but rather to confront tough times and get used to them along the way.
Pelicans Close in on Sixth Seed
The New Orleans Pelicans had their playoff ambition significantly strengthened as they registered a 135-123 solid win on the road against the Sacramento Kings. And in a game that was decided by the slimmest of margins, Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum accounted for half of the total points scored, dropping 31 points each to claim a hard-fought win. Pelicans win-streak that stretches from the start of the game to the end leaves them contending for the 6th spot in the Western Conference bracket, thus putting them in a position to skip the play-in tournament.
Aggressive First-Quarter Performance
New Orleans set the tone early in the game with a dominant first-quarter display, establishing a commanding lead with a 34-11 advantage. McCollum emphasized the team’s aggressive mindset from the opening tip-off, highlighting their commitment to preparation and determination to succeed.
Tight Playoff Race in the West
The Pelicans’ victory intensifies the battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference, with several teams vying for crucial spots in the standings. Sacramento’s loss complicates the playoff picture, leaving them tied with Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers in the race for eighth place.
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