Michael Beasley Helps Knicks Beat Celtics 102-93, Kristaps Porzingis Struggles In Return

Michael Beasley was treated to “MVP!” chants on Thursday night instead of Kristaps Porzingis.

Knicks vs. Celtics Score

The 28-year-old forward — who is in his first season with the New York Knicks — scored a season-high 32 points to lead his team to a 102-93 home victory over the Boston Celtics.

Beasley, a former Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks player, made 28 of his points in the second half and also had 12 rebounds, while Porzingis — who had missed the two previous games with knee soreness — missed all 11 of his field-goal attempts and sat the entire fourth quarter.

”I’m just out here doing what I got to do,” Beasley said humbly. ”It’s nice to hear but I am pretty sure it’s for KP,” he said of the MVP shouts.

Beasley scored 30 points in Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma City. On Thursday, he sank a jumper with 1:06 remaining that stopped a short run from the Celtics and gave the Knicks an eight-point lead. New York has now won five of its last six games.

Porzingis insisted his struggles Thursday were not related to his knee problem.

“Not at all. Just wasn’t in rhythm,” he said. ‘Early on the game just didn’t come to me. I tried to make some passes and I think I did the right thing a lot of times, but I just missed a few of my shots and then was out of the game.”

Kyrie Irving scored 32 points for Boston, which was missing starter Jaylen Brown due to left Achilles tendon soreness. Jayson Tatum added 17 points.

The Knicks (17-14) were blown out in Boston to end their 0-3 start, but have since turned things around, and are now eighth in the Eastern Conference. Fifteen of their 17 wins have come at home.

The Celtics (26-9) are first in the Eastern Conference, and had a 16-game win streak to start the season.

Gordon Hayward, out for Boston since breaking his left ankle in the season opener, wrote a blog post titled ”Improving Every Day”  to deliver an update on his recovery and thoughts about the team.

The Celtics next host the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, while the Knicks will visit Detroit on Friday night.

Caption:OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 16: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors tries to steal the ball from Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks at ORACLE Arena on March 16, 2016 in Oakland, California.