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Boston Celtics: 1 stud and 1 dud from C’s heartbreaking loss to Knicks

By Mark Nilon

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives against Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 06, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives against Evan Fournier #13 of the New York Knicks during their game at Madison Square Garden on January 06, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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For the second night in a row, the Boston Celtics found yet another way to lose at the final moment of regulation. While Wednesday it was a brutal rim-out this time in the form of a buzzer-beating triple by RJ Barrett that, ultimately, gave the New York Knicks a 108-105 victory.

The Cs jumped out to an early lead in this one, battling hard on the defensive end and converting on all attempts they needed to on the offensive side of the ball.

Heading into the half, Boston held a 16-point advantage, leading New York by a lucrative score of 63-47, and saw both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way for the squad with an impressive combined stat-line of 27 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on 56 percent shooting from the floor and 55 percent shooting from deep.

Unfortunately, things seemed to take a total 180 the next two quarters as the big free agency signee for the Knickerbockers, and former shamrock, Evan Fournier, completely erupted for what wound up being a career night.

Since leaving in the offseason, the veteran sharpshooter has turned himself into a “Celtics killer” so to speak, as he had been averaging 32 points and 5.5 rebounds on 53 percent shooting from the floor and 43 percent shooting from deep coming into the night against his one-time employers.

Dropping 22 of his eventual 41 points in the second half, Fournier was seemingly on an absolute mission to spoil Boston’s attempt at taking the lead in the season series, as he was virtually unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball, converting on 60 percent of his attempts from the floor and a whopping 71 percent from deep.

Frankly, the Celtics could have certainly used for their former wing Thursday night, for, outside of the likes of Tatum and Brown the team struggled to find consistent offensive production out of their guys (minus one… but more on him later) and, because of this, we saw far more duds than studs.

Still, there were a few players that are deserving of praise (though it may be hard to justify for some at the momemt) and, with this, we at HH will go on to pinpoint 1 stud and 1 dud performer from Boston’s heartbreaking loss to the New York Knicks:

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