The New York Knicks began their 2023 preseason campaign with a 114-107 victory over the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Knicks faced a depleted Celtics squad that rested most of their star players, while the Knicks played their regular starters for the first half.
Knicks’ Starters Set the Tone
The Knicks opened the game with last year’s starting five of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and Nerlens Noel. They quickly established a double-digit lead in the first quarter, as Brunson scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in just six minutes of action. Randle added 11 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes, while Robinson dominated both ends of the floor with 10 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Barrett led the starters with 12 points, despite shooting 1-of-6 from the field. He made up for his poor shooting by going 9-of-9 from the free-throw line, after shooting 74 percent from the charity stripe last season.
The Knicks’ starters outscored the Celtics’ reserves by 18 points in the first half, giving the Knicks a comfortable 61-43 lead at halftime. The Knicks shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range in the first half, while holding the Celtics to 38 percent and 29 percent respectively.
Quickley Leads Bench Effort
The second half was mostly a showcase for the Knicks’ bench players, as they tried to maintain the lead and impress the coaching staff. The standout performer was second-year guard Immanuel Quickley, who scored 21 points off the bench, including 14 in the third quarter. Quickley displayed his scoring prowess by hitting four three-pointers and driving to the basket with confidence. He also had three steals and two assists in 23 minutes of play.
Another notable contributor was Evan Fournier, who scored 11 points on three triples in his unofficial Knicks debut. Fournier signed a four-year, $78 million contract with the Knicks in the offseason, after spending last season with the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics. He is expected to be a key part of the Knicks’ rotation this season, providing shooting and playmaking.
The Knicks also got some production from their other newcomers, such as Donte DiVincenzo, who had eight points off the bench in his first game as a Knick. DiVincenzo was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to the Los Angeles Clippers and Kemba Walker to the Bucks. DiVincenzo is recovering from a foot injury that sidelined him for most of last season, but he showed some flashes of his potential as a two-way player.
The Knicks’ bench players held off a late rally by the Celtics, who cut the deficit to seven points in the final minute. The Celtics were led by Payton Pritchard, who scored 21 points on five three-pointers. Dalano Banton added 20 points and six rebounds, while former Knick Svi Mykhailiuk had 15 points.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The Knicks and the Celtics will meet again in their preseason finale on Oct. 17 at TD Garden in Boston. The game will likely feature more minutes for the Celtics’ main players, such as Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jayson Tatum. The Celtics are coming off a disappointing season that saw them finish seventh in the Eastern Conference and lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Knicks and the Celtics will also face each other in their regular-season opener on Oct. 25 at Madison Square Garden. The game will be a test for both teams, as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the East. The Knicks are hoping to build on their surprising fourth-place finish last season, which ended with a first-round exit to the Atlanta Hawks.
