GLeague MVP JD Davidson's 32 propels Maine Celtics over Westchester Knicks

The Maine Celtics defeated the Westchester Knicks 124-118 Thursday night to clinch their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals berth. The Celtics caught fire again from deep as they connected on 20 three-pointers for the second straight game.

Reigning GLeague MVP JD Davidson displayed why he was the MVP with a masterful 32-point performance, which included 17 assists, four rebounds, and two steals. It was an all-around classic, as he impacted the game in many ways. Davidson had help from his teammates Miles Norris (27), Jordan Walsh (19), Kavion Pippen (15), and Drew Peterson (14) as five Celtics finished in double-figures.

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Knicks big man Moses Brown was just as dynamic with another monstrous 20-20 game, finishing with 27-26 and four blocks. Kevin McChullar Jr. and Jamal Bey each scored 21 in the Knicks' loss. The Knicks shot 43% (41-94) from the field and just 24% (9-37) from three.

The game got off to a choppy start before the Knicks converted the first basket. The Celtics got off to a quick start, going on an 8-0 run after the Knicks scored the first basket of the game. The Celtics were applying aggressive pressure defensively, not allowing the Knicks to get any easy looks offensively.

 The Celtics' lead bloomed to double-digits with just under eight minutes to go as they started knocking shots from the perimeter off good ball movement. The Knicks called timeout to stop the bleeding with about 7:30 to go. The Celtics' activity defensively and length were swarming the Knic.ks offensively as they struggled to get shots to fall. 

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The Celtics continued to push the pace offensively with a beautiful transition offense, including a Davidson trailer pass for Peterson in a walk-through three at the top of the key that put the Celtics up 13. Careless turnovers and an inability to knock down shots from the perimeter haunted the Knicks, who shot an abysmal 1-of-11 (9%) from three and had four turnovers in the first, compared to one for the Celtics.

Despite the Knicks' shooting woes and turnovers, they entered the second down just seven. The Celtics opened the second, quickly regaining their lead to 10 after Jordan Schakel made three. The Celtic's hot shooting streak seemed eerily reminiscent of their last matchup as DJ Rodman connected on a three as it started becoming a rainstorm from downtown the Celtics. Knicks forward Chuma Okeke finally got on the board with his first field goal, connecting on a 26-foot three-point bomb.  Brown followed with a strong finish to cut the deficit to five as the Knicks started creasing into the Celtics lead.

Knicks guard Johnny Davis hit a three-pointer, followed by two Brown second-chance opportunities, to get the Knicks within three. The Knicks' big man was active and aggressive on the offensive glass. Okeke hit a fallaway tough three as the shot clock expired to make it a 58-54 ball game with 3:07 to go. Despite the Knick's efficiency increasing offensively, they couldn’t seem to take over the game as the Celtics always responded by getting to the charity stripe or drilling a three.

Okeke’s impact on the game was starting to be felt everywhere as he broke down the defense out of a timeout to find Brown for a three-point play to cut the deficit to four. The Celtics responded with back-to-back triples by Norris and Tristan Enaruna to increase their lead to eight. The Celtics led 70-61 at the half.

After Brown’s slow start in the first with just two points, he scored 12 crucial points in the second to pair with 10 rebounds for a double-double. Okeke was the other Knick firing on all cylinders with 14 first-half points. They combined for 28 of the Knick's 61 first-half points. 

The Knicks opened the quarter missing their first four shot attempts before an emphatic slam by Johnny Davis for their first field goal to open the half. The Celtic's offense got off to a slow start, scoring just six points in the first four and a half minutes. The Knicks cut the deficit to two after a Brown flush to make it a one-possession game. The Celtic's offense started to look out of sync as they went over three minutes without a field goal until Peterson connected on a three-point play after a running layup.

Moments later, Davidson found Hason Ward for an alley-oop to put the Celtics back up by eight with 5:06 to go in the third.  Davidson started showing why he was the NBA League MVP, taking the game over with a three and a driving finger roll as he looked to attack. He connected on a three-point play moments later to give him 22 with 2:05 remaining in the third.

The game started quickly, pulling away from the Knicks as the third approached. The Celtics took a 17-point lead after a 27-foot stepback three by Davidson, who exploded for 15 of his 32 in the third. He scored 15 of the Celtics' 33 third-quarter points.

The Knick's scoring woes were displayed early in the fourth, with just seven points in the first four minutes. Both teams struggled to find the basket as the Celtics only scored four points midway through the fourth. However, they were still up by double-digits.

Celtics center James Banks III fouled out with four points and five rebounds with 6:07 to go. The Knicks started attacking the basket and getting to the foul line, cutting the deficit to six with over five minutes to go, as the Celtics had gone cold from the field. The Celtics led by 10 with 4:48 to go.

Walsh stole the ball off an inbounds to finish with a one-handed slam to put the Celtics up 10 before McCullar Jr finished at the rim. The Celtics returned with a Norris alley-oop to return up 10 as the two-minute mark approached. Norris went one of three from the charity stripe after getting fouled on a three to give the Knicks a breathing chance down by right with 2:17. 

Moments later, Bey hit a three to cut the deficit to five as the crowd erupted. Davis followed with another three as the Knicks were down by four. Davidson stepped up as the MVP, drilling a gut-wrenching three that put the Celtics back up seven.

The Knicks tried to make one last rally that was squandered by a Norris dunk that all but ended it as the Celtics won 124-118 to advance to the Conference Finals and end the Knicks' tremendous season. Despite the disappointing loss, the Knicks set a single-season win record of 22-12 to end the regular season. Knicks head coach, DeSagna Diop, had high praise for his team.

“Those guys are fighters, man. Every day, I told them that I got dogs. That's what I kept telling them.  We fought every game. Even tonight, we were down what? 18, 20? They hit a couple of shots here and there. Fouled, free throw line, but it’s part of it. It’s just a part of life. Keep growing, keep getting better, man, but I’m super, super proud of those guys.”

Maine advances to the Conference Finals, where they will play the Osceola Magic.