Boston – Stopped from wing stop to wing.
The Knicks acquired OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, hoping to shine against the Celtics, but their initial attempt to overcome them fell short due to poor performances.
In a disappointing Game 5, the Knicks lost 127-102 at TD Garden, with both players struggling immensely. Together, they managed only 15 points while shooting an ugly 5-26 from the field.
Anunoby’s performance was particularly dismal, finishing with only 1 point from 12 attempts.
Coach Tom Thibodeau and Bridges acknowledged the team’s defensive struggles as a significant factor that hindered their offensive flow and pace of play.
“The main issue is we need to stop,” Thibodeau commented. “We scored well in the first half, but defense was where we faltered. Starting the third quarter, we aimed to regroup and force our way back into the game, but without stops, we couldn’t get into our rhythm. That really affected us.”
Bridges expressed concerns as well, reflecting, “I think we’re facing issues we haven’t fully addressed. I’m worried it might continue.”
The playoffs have seen Bridges severely impacted, while Anunoby’s performance has notably dwindled — especially for someone with such a high-profile contract. This marked the third game in the series where Anunoby scored fewer than 6 points.
In these three games, he has shot just 4-27 from the field.
Bridges initially found success with 7 points and shot 3-for-6 in the first quarter, but then faltered with only 2 points the rest of the way, missing 7 of 8 subsequent shots, and finishing as a minus-25 in team impact.
For the Knicks to turn the series around, they need to find a way to regain their momentum.
