NEW YORK — There’s nothing quite like triggering sounds of appreciation from a Madison Square Garden crowd, which the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown managed last night with a pair of fourth-quarter dunks.
As the swingman admitted after scoring 24 points in a 121-112 win over the New York Knicks, MSG is a unique stage, serenaded by in-game organ music.
“This is one of my favorite places to play. Just the aroma, the smoke. Every time I play here at Madison Square Garden, there’s just a stoic type of feel here,” he said. “The history, the atmosphere is fantastic. It’s amazing to come out and there’s like a misty, mystified court. The crowd is cheering. It’s almost like you’re playing in a throwback game 20 years ago.”
Indeed, Boston Garden once carried a similar feel, before amped-up sounds took over the game experience.
Kyrie Irving, a son of northern New Jersey, grew up in the shadow of MSG, though he made it clear that New York is not his home.
“I’m not from here. I’m from Jersey. So let’s get that straight,” he said to a member of the local media. “I love New York, but I’m from Jersey. But playing at the mecca is always fun. It has a way of bringing out the best in people. And it’s just great to get a win (there) because you understand it’s a high matchup and a lot of people come to watch the Knicks play. And you just want to play well on a floor like this and get a great team win.”
Good point on Larkin
Shane Larkin returned from an 11-game absence due to a knee-related issue. He played his usual energizer role late in the third quarter and early in the fourth during six restricted minutes.
He was overjoyed about his return.
“I’m just so happy with how this season’s gone,” he said. “My last two NBA seasons I won less than I’ve won this season already, so just to be in this culture winning games, and showing how I can help winning on a good team has helped with my career. I don’t have to think about next year — just continue to do it this year.”
Celtics coach Brad Stevens planned to limit the playing time for the backup point guard to no more than 10 or 12 minutes. Because of Larkin’s injury and inactivity while recovering, the limited playing time probably was a good idea.
“I feel pretty good, haven’t done much on the court — haven’t done any basketball work for three weeks now,” Larkin said. “Felt good to get back out here to do some dribble moves, shooting out beyond the 3-point line. Overall my legs are a little sore because I haven’t had any physical activity in a while. But my knee is feeling pretty good.
“I got a couple of MRIs and there was nothing in there, it looked pretty solid,” he said. “It was just a combination of things. It’s frustrating that it happened when it did with the situation being what it was. But just try to push forward and do what I have all year.”
‘Not coming back’
Stevens announced Friday injured forward Gordon Hayward won’t travel with the team for another two weeks, which should, once and for all, put a lid on any hopes of a return before the playoffs.
Stevens looked slightly amused by all of the speculation when he said, “I’ve said all year: ‘Not coming back.’ It’s the way I’ve operated. It’s the way we’ve looked at it.
“We’ll bring him on the road when he can do stuff on the road, but that’s for his own benefit, to get back into the gyms, to get back into this routine, to cheer on his teammates and everything else. But as long as he can get more accomplished at our facility or with our trainers, when we sent him or left him in Southern California, then that’s going to be the priority. But we have no expectation of Gordon being back this season.”
Baynes’ elbow issue
Aron Baynes was a scratch against the Knicks because of a sprained left elbow suffered 24 hours earlier during the first quarter against the Pistons in Detroit. Daniel Theis, as a result, made his third NBA start.
“He’ll get further testing tomorrow,” said Stevens about Baynes. “Felt a little bit better, he’s still sore, but he’ll see our team (doctors) and do the MRI thing tomorrow.”
Maine attraction
Guerschon Yabusele is in the midst of his longest stint of the season with the Maine Red Claws, and the G-League routine is much-needed, considering the rookie power forward’s lack of playing time with the parent club.
“Get as much game time as possible. When we sent him before break, we told him he would likely be up there for a little bit of time,” said Stevens. “We likened it a little bit to Terry (Rozier’s) situation a few years ago.
“He’s got to be game ready, and hopefully when he comes back he has his legs under him and confidence and pep about him,” Stevens said about Yabusele. “You don’t want to be in a situation where we lose bodies, but certainly how thin we are in the frontcourt is why we want to have him ready. Adding Greg (Monroe) allowed us to do that as well. It’s another big we can go to when Baynes gets hurt.”
