The Celtics were facing a seven-point deficit against the Knicks when Hugo Gonzalez got the call to enter the game at the start of the second quarter. For the next 12 minutes, Joe Mazzulla was unable to take him out as Boston turned the game around in part due to the rookie’s defensive spark.

The 19-year-old guarded everyone from Karl-Anthony Towns to Jalen Brunson while helping limit the Knicks to a 20-point second quarter. The Celtics erased a double-digit deficit in the frame and ultimately held on for a 123-117 win against their division rivals.

Gonzalez had largely been the odd man out of the rotation recently, having not played more than nine minutes in a game since November 9. However, he finished with a career-high 23 minutes against the Knicks, with his defensive versatility and

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