Knicks 105, Celtics 75: Scenes from the rookies leading a Boston beatdown

The New York Knicks barely looked like a NBA team in recent games and they rode into Boston on the heels of a five-game losing streak. Well, they sure as hell looked like one Sunday afternoon, as the pounded the hated Celtics by the score of 105-75.

The Knicks started off with a different kind of defensive intensity on head coach Tom Thibodeau’s birthday (happy birthday, Thibs!), and the Celtics were ice cold. The game really got exciting when rookie Immanuel Quickley took to floor and put on a first-half floater clinic.

Still, the Knicks were only up 13 at the half, and with the way they’ve been playing of late, you couldn’t help but be a bit nervous. But the team put the screws to Boston in the third quarter, and the game quickly turned into a rout. Quickley capped off a 17-point, 8-assist night by burying a triple from lonnnnnng range.

Fellow rook Obi Toppin had the best game of his brief pro career, with 12 points on 5-8 shooting, including a pair of triples.

The rooks even hooked up on the pick-and-roll, ending in this emphatic Obi jam.

The afternoon ended with the kids singing “Happy Birthday to You” to the coach after the game. Good vibes all around.

Matt Miranda has the recap. Stay golden.