BOSTON — From Wingstop to Wings stopped.
The Knicks brought back OG Anunoby and acquired Mikal Bridges with the Celtics — and beating them in the postseason — specifically in mind. But they were two big reasons the Knicks failed their first chance to fully accomplish that feat.
Both had nightmarish showings in the Knicks’ 127-102 Game 5 loss to the Celtics Wednesday night at TD Garden.
They combined for just 15 points on a brutal 5-for-26 shooting from the field.
Anunoby was particularly poor, shooting 1-for-12 in the loss.
Coach Tom Thibodeau and Bridges both pointed to the defensive end for their struggles on the offensive end, preventing them transition opportunities and chances to push the pace.
“The big thing is we gotta get stops,” Thibodeau said. “The first half, we scored fine. … We scored 59 [in the first half], that wasn’t the issue. The issue was the defense. To start the third [quarter], we got in a hole and tried to get on track, but you gotta get some stops so that you can get into the open floor. I thought that probably hurt us as well.”
“I don’t know, I think it’s more us not getting stops,” Bridges added. “Pretty much just worried about not getting stops out there.”
Bridges has had huge fourth quarters throughout the playoffs, but Anunoby has had too many disappearing acts — especially from someone who got the biggest contract in franchise history. Wednesday marked the third time this series that Anunoby has recorded six or fewer points.
In those three games, Anunoby has shot a rough 4-for-27 from the field.
He also struggled to contain Jaylen Brown, who finished with 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting from the field, on the defensive end.
Bridges started strong with seven points on 3-for-6 shooting from the field in the first quarter. But he had just two points the rest of the game and missed seven of the next eight shots he took. He was also a team-worst minus-25.
To close out the series, the Knicks need Wingstop to reopen.
