The Boston Celtics kept their season alive with a gutsy Game 5 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.![Jaylen Brown]()
There’s still work to be done, but Charles Barkley believes the Celtics can go into Madison Square Garden, win Game 6 and force Game 7.
“They can win in New York, because they can play free,” Barkley said on TNT on Wednesday. “And they’re gonna have the best player in the game.”
The “best player in the game” Barkley referring to is Jaylen Brown. The star guard dropped 26 points and added 12 assists with eight rebounds in the 127-102 victory.
Barkley’s co-analyst Shaquille O’Neal disagreed with his assessment and said Jalen Brunson is the better player.
“I love Brunson, but Jaylen Brown’s going to be the best player in that game,” Barkley said.
While the Celtics go into Game 6 with their backs against the wall, they’ll go into the must-win matchup with plenty of motivation and adrenaline from not only Wednesday’s win, but trying to get the job done in the absence of Jayson Tatum. The All-Star forward ruptured his Achilles tendon in Game 4 and underwent successful surgery earlier this week.
And even though the Celtics have to win to keep the series going, Barkley thinks the Knicks have more pressure on them.
“The pressure is gonna be on New York,” Barkley said. “I think it’s a must-win game for New York.
