Knicks advance and face difficult test versus safeguarding champion Celtics

DETROIT (AP)– The New york city Knicks made significant transfer to boost their roster, including Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, in the hopes of competing for an NBA title.The Knicks

will learn if they have what it takes.Advertisement New York beat the Detroit Pistons 116-113 in Game 6 of their first-round series, establishing a matchup with the Boston Celtics.Game 1 is Monday night in Boston, where the second-seeded Celtics will try to keep home-court benefit against the third-seeded Knicks.”They’re the defending champion so we’re going to have to be at our finest,”Knicks coach

Tom Thibodeau said.Even though Detroit challenged the Knicks in the carefully objected to series, they understand the next test will be tougher.”

We’re betting the safeguarding champs next time so it’s going to be a lot various,”said Jalen Brunson, who made

a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left and scored 40 points on Thursday night.” The Celtics have experience.(The Pistons)brought the battle to us and we needed to respond and we did.” Advertisement The margin of triumph in the 4 straight New York-Detroit games was 3 or less points, marking the second time that has actually occurred in NBA history. Boston and Philadelphia were the only other teams to do it during the 1981 Eastern Conference finals.After losing in the 2nd round the past two years and aiming to at least make the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, New York got aggressive.Towns was acquired from Minnesota for a first-round choice, three-time All-Star Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who set the single-season franchise record for 3-pointers last season.Bridges was removed Brooklyn’s roster for 4

first-round picks.Advertisement While Towns was reasonably peaceful in Video game 6, scoring 10 points and getting 15 rebounds, Bridges was among the very best players on the court.The 28-year-old small forward had 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 helps and a block in the series finale.”I would not be in that position without(Bridges)and the method he played,”Brunson stated. “Certainly, everybody’s going to say a lot about the swan song, however throughout the game, the ups and

downs of it, all of us remained made up, and it was tremendous. I offer a lot of credit to my teammates.

“Brunson, though, was and is the team’s brightest star.A week after winning the NBA’s clutch player of the year award, Brunson’s crossover dribble between his legs created space against pesky protector Ausar Thompson for the winning 3-pointer. Ad “As soon as he got some separation, I knew it was drapes,”

Bridges said.Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Twitter And Facebook.|View Boston 25 News NOW