The Boston Celtics were (and still are) favored to win their second-round matchup against the New York Knicks. Knicks-Celtics Game 1 was an epic start to the series, with the Celtics taking an early lead they could not hold onto as the Knicks clawed back into the game. Eventually, the Knicks surged to an overtime victory. Now the defending champions have their backs against the wall as they prepare for a crucial Game 2. The Celtics’ Game 2 injury report will also play an important role, as Boston suffered a few key injuries during their Game 1 loss. We are going to take a look at Boston’s outlook for Game 2 and determine whether it is already time to start worrying about their championship defense.
Should The Celtics Be Worried After Their Game 1 Loss?
Nobody was expecting the Knicks to take Game 1. They were almost 10-point underdogs to start the game, but once the ball was tipped, that didn’t matter. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 29 points each, while Mikal Bridges made the decisive defensive play, stealing the ball from Jaylen Brown in the final seconds to seal the victory.
Boston, despite strong starts from their stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, failed late, shooting just 15-for-60 from three-point range, a new NBA playoff record for missed threes. The Knicks outscored Boston 45-25 to close regulation. New York’s toughness and late-game execution allowed them to steal home-court advantage, giving them a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2 on Wednesday.
Celtics’ Game 2 Injury Report
Walking into Game 1, the Celtics’ injury report was squeaky clean. Unfortunately, during the game, two players went down and were unable to return to the game. The first player, and most important, is Kristaps Porzingis. The 7-foot-2 big man left Game 1 after playing only 13 minutes due to an “illness” and was unable to return. Porzingis missed significant time recently with an illness, and although it is unclear if the two are related, it is still worrisome for the Celtics.
Sam Hauser also left Game 1 and didn’t return. Hauser played just four minutes in the game until he sprained his ankle. Although Hauser isn’t as key a player as Porzingis, his injury is still an issue. Hauser averaged over 21 minutes a game for the Celtics this season and is a key rotation player for them. These injuries could present challenges for the Celtics.
The Celtics Need to Worry a Little Bit
Going down 1-0 and losing home-court advantage is certainly not a death sentence. The Celtics are arguably the best team in the league, and they have proven that they have the resilience of a champion. That being said, it’s the Celtics’ health that could ruin their chances at repeating as champions. Winning a championship takes a toll, and the Celtics are showing that wear and tear now.
The Celtics’ three best players, Tatum, Brown, and Jrue Holiday, have all missed time in the last few weeks with various injuries. They likely are not playing at 100%. Now, other key players like Porzingis and Hauser could miss time as well. If the Celtics can make it through this series without any major injuries, they shouldn’t worry too much. But if the injuries keep adding up, their title defense could end earlier than expected.
Featured image: © David Butler II-Imagn Images
The post Should The Celtics Be Worried After Their Game 1 Loss? appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.