Celtics 119, Knicks 114: The Grinch stole Christmas, Kristaps stole it back, and Melo gave it away again

The New York Knicks ruined Christmas yet again, falling victim to the army of green trolls who live under live under Santa’s workshop and steal children’s toys while the elves are sleeping by the score of 119-114.

The game was tight until the second quarter, when the Celtics caught fire from behind the three-point arc. (They were left wide open by Knicks defenders, but that’s pretty much a given.) Jae Crowder hit three consecutive triples to put Boston ahead, and they just kept pouring it on from there — 7 threes in the frame. Kristaps Porzingis damn near stole this game with a breathtaking run — 8 straight points — before a swell Joakim Noah dish to Carmelo Anthony tied the game with a minute left. From there it was all bullshit. Marcus Smart, who shoots roughly 09% from the field when not playing the Knicks, splashed a go-ahead three-pointer. Then Melo coughed up the ball on a pathetic iso in the corner. Vintage Knicksing, really.

Carmelo Anthony attempted to put the team on his back in the third quarter, but New York’s wack-ass defense allowed the Celtics to match him shot-for-shot.

Derrick Rose was magnificent on offense at the start of the game, dropping layups and floaters from crazy angles, as is his wont:

Kristaps Porzingis gave Knicks fans a little thrill at the end of the first half:

Melo was hitting all kinds of tough fadeaways once he caught fire in the third quarter:

This was pretty awesome:

But mostly this game sucked. Recap to come.