BOSTON — The Celtics had every reason to come at the start of Game 3 with a vengeance.
They had just been beaten by the Knicks in the first two games, and now down 0-2 and returning home, it was time for payback.
Um, guys? What was that?
The Knicks didn’t just beat the Celtics in Game 3, they beat them up all game, and dug the grave to their 2013 season with a 90-76 win to take a commanding three-game series lead.
Based on the way things have gone, it would appear as if the Knicks will finish the job Sunday afternoon for all to see.
Boston had exactly one lead in Game 3, and it came on the game’s first made basket by Jason Terry – who got the start.
That was followed up by a Pablo Prigioni three-pointer to give the Knicks a lead that they would never give up again.
New York led by five at the end of the first quarter, then jumped on the Celtics in the second, outscoring them 24-13 to take a 47-31 halftime lead.
Yes, 31 halftime points for Boston.
And it didn’t get any better for the Celtics in the second half either either, who shot 40 percent from the field for the game and allowed 26 points off turnovers to their 8 points.
Boston was led by Paul Pierce (6-15, 17 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds) and Jeff Green (8-17, 21 points, 9 rebounds). Both had five turnovers thought. Kevin Garnett grabbed 17 rebounds. But nobody on Boston could get anything going consistently.
Carmelo Anthony was once again the Knicks’ main weapon with 26 points on 12-25 shooting. Raymond Felton added 13 points and 9 assists, and J.R. Smith scored 15 points off the bench before being ejected midway through the 4th quarter after an elbow to Jason Terry earned him a Flagrant-2.
What they’ll be saying: Well, that should do it. No team has ever come back in a series down three games to none, and nothing says the Celtics are about to be the first team to do so. They were punked in their own home – the first home game they’ve had in 16 days – and it looks like it’s just a matter of time before they’re eliminated. Hopefully they can win on Sunday and at least avoid a sweep, but we’ll be soon talking about the future of this organization and if Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will be a part of it.
