Celtics do something NBA hasn't seen in 48 years in win over Knicks (plus other crazy numbers as well)
In Friday night's home victory over the Nuggets Boston led 39-15 after the first quarter. During the massacre in New York on Sunday afternoon the Celtics were on top 34-11 at the end of the first period; good for a combined total of 73-26.
Celtics are 1st team since Jan. 1965 to outscore opponents in 1st quarter by at least 23 points in consecutive games. @EliasSports
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 8, 2013
- The 114-73 defeat was the Knicks 3rd biggest home loss in franchise history, and worst ever at MSG vs Boston
- It was also the most lopsided game in the NBA so far this season
- To no surprise it marked the first time since becoming a head coach that Brad Stevens' team has held a 30 (and then 40) point lead
- This was just the Celtics third 40+ point win in the past decade; they had one in Sacramento in 2008, and another vs the Knicks as well on November 29, 2007 (a romp during the title season that I remember being at in which the final score was 104-59 after a half court shot at the buzzer from Nate Robinson allowed New York to avoid their lowest single game point total of all-time)
- The 41 point margin ties for the 4th largest road win in Celtics history
- The Knicks became just the second team ever to win consecutive games by 30 or more, than lose their next by 30+
- Carmelo Anthony had a career worst +/- of -40
- New York's starting backcourt of Raymond Felton and Iman Shumpert combined for zero points on 0-12 shooting in 51 minutes of action
- Boston's starting five outscored their Knick counterparts by sixty, 89-29
- And finally not that crazy but still noteworthy, Avery Bradley posted his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds
Follow Mark Vandeusen on twitter @LucidSportsFan