GREATEST OF BEAS’
Michael’s unreal 2nd half crushes Celts as KP goes O-fer in return
Michael Beasley, coming off the bench with Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup, celebrates as he scores 28 of his 32 points after halftime, as the Knicks rally to beat the East-leading Celtics, 102-93, despite Porzingis missing all 11 of his field-goal attempts.
The festive Garden crowd chanted “M-V-P’’ when the Knicks’ gangly power forward stepped to the freethrow line during his secondhalf rampage. The serenade, however, was for Michael Beasley — not the 0for-11 shooting Kristaps Porzingis. Up was down and down was up Thursday at the Garden. Beasley continued his stunning rampage, hearing more chants across the fourth quarter. He came off the bench for a season-high 32 points — 28 in the second half — and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes to repel the mighty Celtics in a resounding statement and 102-93 triumph. “It felt awesome,” Beasley said. “[The chant] was probably for KP. It’s nice to hear but I’m pretty sure it was for KP.’’ Probably not, as Porzingis was on the bench, scoring just one point from the free-throw line in his rusty return from a week-long, two-game absence with a sore left knee. This was Beasley’s night. Spinning, driving and hitting all arrays of pull-ups, the lefty shot a sizzling 13-of-20 from the field as the Knicks moved to 17-14. The previous time Beasley was on the Garden floor, starting for the injured Porzingis last Saturday, he overwhelmed Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder with 30 points. But this was more eye-opening because Porzingis was back — and was forced to ride the bench for the final period-and-ahalf as Beasley put on another show, scoring 28 points in the game’s final 17:20. “I’m in the gym sharpening my sword, not knowing when I have to use it,’’ Beasley said. “I work, man. I work extremely hard off the court. You’re starting to see the result of it.” With Porzingis on the bench, Beasley led a charge back with his southpaw moves for a 10-point third period and kept pouring it on with 17 fourth-quarter points. Beasley finished his spree with 1:05 left on a pull-up over Al Horford to put the Knicks ahead by eight points. When asked when he started feeling the hot hand, the eccentric Beasley quipped: “Jan. 9, 1989.” That’s the day he was born.
“I’m just here for the team,’’ Beasley added. “As humbly as I can say it, I just feel every shot I shoot is going in. Every shot I miss I’m mad.”
Porzingis exited with five minutes left in the third quarter and didn’t return. In two games against Boston this season, he has shot 3-for-24. It marked the second time in his career he went without a field goal.
“Thanks to me the game was close, I kept it close,’’ Porzingis said. “We should’ve won by a bigger difference. Michael Beasley had my back tonight.”
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek felt Porzingis aided the cause.
“KP coming back lifted everyone a bit even though he didn’t make any shots,’’ Hornacek said. “He’s a presence out there.”
Beasley, who is now averaging 11.1 points per game, has notched consecutive games of 30, 23 and 32 points.
Before training camp, Beasley said he was looking forward to shining on a big stage, saying he’s a “walking bucket.’’ He’s toned down the rhetoric, but when asked if this was the night he visualized when signing with the Knicks, Beasley said, “My visions are deep into April and May.”
After driving to the rim and getting hacked late in the third quarter, Beasley stepped to the free-throw line and the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft heard his first playful “M-V-P” chants from the crowd. Those chants would continue.
Horford, Boston’s star defensive big man, admitted the game plan wasn’t about stopping Beasley.
“We definitely weren’t as aware of him,’’ he said. “Our focus and emphasis wasn’t on him.’’
As Porzingis sat, the Knicks rallied from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter and the teams were tied after three. Rookie point guard Frank Ntilkina came on to play a solid two-way fourth quarter in quieting Kyrie Irving (32 points). Ntilikina hit a big tiebreaking 3-pointer to make it 75-72 with 8:50 left and later added another 3-pointer.
Beasley, after attacking the basket late in the game, got fouled and shook his head to the crowd, eliciting more chants as he went to the free-throw line. He made both — even one going off the back iron and in.
“We showed the character of this team, showed we got fight,’’ Beasley said. “We weathered the storm.’’