New York Knicks’ Michael Beasley (8) celebrates after scoring a three point shot during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
NEW YORK — Kristaps Porzingis received the loudest cheers during the player introductions as he returned from a two-game absence.
But by the end of the night, Madison Square Garden was chanting another name.
Michael Beasley earned deafening “MVP! MVP!” chants after steering the New York Knicks past the NBA’s league-best Boston Celtics, 102-93, Thursday night here.
Beasley came alive in the third quarter and took over for the Knicks after Kyrie Irving gave the Celtics their first lead of the night that ballooned to as big as nine with over three minutes left to play in the period.
MVP chants for Beas. He can’t miss, even from the stripe. #NBA pic.twitter.com/GvIeHDwbrW
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 22, 2017
He scored six of the Knicks’ last 11 points that tied the game at 68 at the end of third, and New York continued to ride his hot hand in the final quarter, where Beasley poured 18 points to keep the Celtics at bay.
With Al Horford hounding him, Beasley pulled up from 12 feet to push the lead to 99-91 with over a minute left and virtually seal the Knicks’ first victory over their Atlantic Division rival in three tries.
“Mike, he can do a lot of things with the ball. He can go right, he can go left. He was the second pick in the draft 10 years ago. He’s talented and you all saw that tonight,” said coach Jeff Hornacek.
Beasley exploded for 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting and added 12 rebounds off the bench, making him the first sub for the Knicks to have scored 32 and 12 according to Associated Press.
O’Quinn with a putback slam! Beasley gets MVP chants. Tied game at 68 after three quarters. #NBA pic.twitter.com/gjS7X0lzG3
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 22, 2017
The Knicks are 1-5 without Porzingis this season, but the Latvian center was hardly a factor in the victory as he only registered a point and five rebounds in 23 minutes in his first game back after dealing with a sore left knee.
The Knicks star, though, has generally not performed well against the Celtics. In the Knicks’ 110-89 loss last October 24 at the TD Garden in Boston, Porzingis shot just 3-of-14 as they fell to 0-3.
“He hadn’t played in 7 days, it’s always tough to come back from that. He just had one of those nights. I’m sure he wanted to come out and play well, but the team won and he’s happy about that,” said the New York coach.
Enes Kanter added 14 points and 10 boards while Courtney Lee and Jarrett Jack, who were responsible for the Knicks’ hot start where they led by as much as 14 in the opening period, had 12 markers apiece.
Kyrie Irving matched Beasley’s game best 32 points, but the Celtics still lost their second straight game after falling to Miami, 90-89, on Wednesday at home.
“It is what it is. It happens,” Irving said. “So for now, presently, where we are, just pick ourselves up and move on to I believe, Chicago (on) Saturday.”
The Knicks face the Detroit Pistons on Friday before facing the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Christmas Day.