SPORTS

The Celtics' Comeback: A Game of Numbers

Madison Square Garden, New York, USASun May 11 2025
The Boston Celtics put on a show in Game 3 against the New York Knicks, securing a 115-93 victory. This win was a big deal for the Celtics, who had lost the first two games of the series. Payton Pritchard led the scoring with 23 points, which is a new high for him in the playoffs. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown also had strong performances, each contributing significantly to the team's success. The Knicks, despite leading the series 2-1, struggled to keep up with the Celtics' shooting. Boston hit 50 percent of their 3-point shots, a stark contrast to their previous games. The Celtics never trailed and at one point were up by 31 points. This game showed that the Celtics can still compete, even after losing the first two games at home. The Knicks' defense wasn't as strong as it had been in the previous games. They had trouble keeping track of the Celtics' shooters and struggled to maintain a consistent offense. The Knicks' poor 3-point shooting and free-throw shooting also hurt their chances of winning. They need to find a way to generate more offense if they want to keep up with the Celtics. The Celtics' ability to make 3-pointers will likely be a big talking point before Game 4. They did a great job of limiting the Knicks' open shots, which was a big improvement from the first two games. The Celtics were desperate to win Game 3, and they need to carry that same focus and intensity into the rest of the series. The Celtics' victory was a long time coming. They had been struggling with their 3-point shots in the previous games, but they finally broke out of that slump. They started hot, making 6 out of 7 3-point shots in the first quarter. They finished the game with 20 out of 40 3-point shots, a big improvement from their previous performances. The Celtics' coach, Joe Mazzulla, made some key adjustments that helped the team win. He was better at reading his players' weaknesses and changing the offense to work around them. This game showed that the Celtics can adapt and find ways to win, even when things aren't going perfectly.

questions

    How significant is the Celtics' 3-point shooting performance in Game 3 for their series against the Knicks?
    What adjustments did the Celtics make defensively to limit the Knicks' open looks in Game 3?
    What specific defensive strategies did the Celtics employ to limit the Knicks' scoring opportunities?

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