Beasley fuels Knicks upset of Celtics; Cavaliers, Raptors win
Former United star and assistant manager Giggs said he and the club’s scouts had been aware of both attackers before they moved to their current sides, but the Old Trafford outfit failed to act – another example of their poor strategy in the transfer market in the ex-winger’s eyes.
“I watched Gabriel Jesus play three years ago. I watched Mbappe for a year,” he told The Times.
“I was watching them with the scout and it was a no-brainer. It was just like, ‘Get them’. It would have Evans — players who are United through and through. “It was hard because Louis had his own ideas and you had to respect that, but, yes, we had a few arguments about a couple of them. He understood [my position] because I had played with those lads, but they just weren’t for him.
“Some of them, like Welbeck, wanted to play more regularly, and Jonny had a few injuries at the time, so you could understand it, but — and it’s not saying it in hindsight — recruitment hasn’t been great either.”
Michael Beasley was the unlikely hero in the New York Knicks’ upset of NBA Eastern Conference leaders Celtics Thursday, exploding for 32 points to fuel a 102-93 triumph over Boston.
Beasley’s effort off the bench – including 28 points in the second half – had “M-V-P” chants ringing around Madison Square Garden, AFP reported.
He more than compensated for Kristaps Porzingis’ worst NBA game: a 0-for-11 shooting display that yielded one point and saw the Knicks’ Latvian star sit out the final 17 minutes.
With the Knicks down by nine, Beasley came in for Porzingis with 5:37 left in the third quarter and promptly scored 10 points in five minutes.
“I’m just here for the team,” Beasley said. “Whatever they need, whenever they need it. Scoring, rebounding, defense, just trying my best. As humbly as I can say it, I just feel like every shot that I shoot is going in.”
His jump shot sealed the victory with 1:06 left to play, handing the Celtics a second defeat in as many nights after a one-point loss to the Miami Heat in Boston on Wednesday.
“Mike knows his role. If KP’S out he obviously gets the bigger minutes,” Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said.
“I thought he played great in filling in for him. He really helped us get some points on the board.”
Porzingis, who had missed two games with a sore knee, was hoping to expunge the memory of a dismal shooting night against the Celtics in the first week of the season, when he connected on just three of 14 shots from the floor.
Instead, he was even worse, missing all 11 of his shots in the first half and not even attempting one in the second.
Kyrie Irving scored 32 points for the Celtics, who lost back-to-back games for the first time this campaign.
Their closest pursuers in the East, meanwhile, notched victories.
Derozan on fire
Demar Derozan scored a career-high 45 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 114-109 comeback victory over the 76ers in Philadelphia and the Cleveland Cavaliers warmed up for their NBA Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day with a hard-fought 115112 home win over the Chicago Bulls.
Derozan made 13 of his 21 shots from the floor, including six of nine from threepoint range.
Australian rookie Ben Simmons scored 20 points to pace the 76ers, who were