HERO
Add Pablo Prigioni to the list of surprising New York playoff sports heroes. The Argentinian point guard was sensational in putting the Celtics on the brink last night, leading the Knicks to a 16-point halftime lead behind his nine points and four steals before the break.
ZERO
With his team in need of a win, Celtics captain Paul Pierce turned the ball over five times and shot 6-for-15 (2-for-10 in the first half).
KEY PLAY
After the Celtics trimmed the Knicks’ lead to three in the second quarter, Prigioni hit a 3-pointer that put the Knicks back up by six, 29-23. That began the Knicks’ 21-8 run to close the half and stake them to their big halftime lead.
KEY STAT
0 The number of teams in NBA history who have come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Of course, a Boston team was the first to do it in baseball in 2004 — to a New York team.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
‘We want to close the deal. We want to seal the deal [tomorrow].’
– Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks holding a 3-0 series lead.