NEW YORK >> Jalen Brunson burned the Celtics at times over the first three games, particularly during New York’s fourth-quarter comebacks in Games 1 and 2. But overall, Boston had done a better job of limiting the All-Star point guard than the Pistons did in the opening round.

Brunson did not crack 30 points in any of the first three Celtics-Knicks games after doing so in five of New York’s six matchups with Detroit. Entering Game 4, his scoring and assist numbers were down compared to the previous round, and his turnovers were up.

“I think we’ve done all right,” Holiday said. “I definitely think it’s a team effort. Everybody’s kind of had the chance to guard him here and there and done a good job on him. Sometimes in the first two games in the fourth (quarter), he does what he does, but I think we’ve been taking care of him as good as possible.”

Boston also had put Brunson on the free-throw line much less frequently — one of the primary keys, Holiday said, to defending a player who ranked second in the NBA in fouls drawn per game this season, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brunson averaged 6.0 free throw attempts per game over the first three contests, down from 9.0 per game in the Pistons series.

“Try not to foul him,” Holiday said. “Knowing that he lives at the free-throw line and does a great job of drawing fouls, try to keep him off the free-throw line as much as possible. And then show multiple bodies. Obviously, being a smaller guard, I think seeing multiple bodies and trying to corral him, maybe even seeing two or three guys, hopefully we can turn the ball over and get out in transition.”

Holiday has been the Celtics defender primarily responsible for Brunson. Over the first three games, the latter shot 5-for-18 and 2-for-7 from 3-point range while being guarded by the former.

Brunson finally broke loose in Game 4, however, erupting for 38 points — including 18 during a torrid third quarter — and a playoff-high 12 assists.

Hauser still out

Sam Hauser made progress in his recovery before Game 4 of the Celtics’ second-round playoff series — but not enough to return to the lineup.

After being upgraded to questionable and going through an extensive workout at morning shootaround, Hauser was ruled out for Monday night’s game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

It was the third straight DNP for the bench sharpshooter, who sprained his right ankle in Boston’s Game 1 loss at TD Garden.

“He’s getting there,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said Sunday. “He’s getting better. He’s day to day, getting better every day, so just got to continue that process. He’s a little bit better today than he was yesterday, and he’s just got to continue to work to get there.”

The Celtics have had their entire rotation available for just one full game this postseason.

Hauser, a core member of Mazzulla’s rotation, played in 71 games during the regular season and led all Celtics players in 3-point shooting percentage (41.6%). He’s been quiet since the playoffs began, totaling just 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 78 minutes across six appearances.

Guard Jrue Holiday said Monday morning that getting Hauser back “would be huge.” But that will not happen until Game 5 at the earliest.

“Obviously, with his 3-point shooting, he spaces the floor, being able to be dynamic out there,” Holiday said. “Having Big Smooth back would be great.”

Every other Celtics player was available Monday night as Boston attempted to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals at 2-2.

Lineups unchanged

Neither team made any alterations to its starting lineup for Game 4.

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis came off the bench for the third consecutive game, and the Knicks opted not to move oft-fouled big man Mitchell Robinson into the starting five, as some speculated they might in order to limit Boston’s ability to hack him.

Robinson is a difference-maker on defense and a valuable offensive rebounder, but he’s such a poor free-throw shooter that the Celtics intentionally fouled him in each of the series’ first three games. He entered Monday shooting a pitiful 28.9% from the foul line this postseason, including a 4-for-12 mess in Game 3.

“There’s a lot of thoughts that you put into it,” Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said when asked whether he’d consider starting Robinson. “And again, there’s a strategy of, what are they doing? Are they in the bonus? Does it get us into the bonus? And then how many is he making? You’re basing it on points per possession, and it does allow you to save your defense. There’s pluses to it. And then, what’s he creating with the offensive rebounds and all the things he does, as well?”

Symptoms from a lingering viral illness have limited Porzingis’ production and availability in these playoffs. He played 13 minutes in Game 1, 14 in Game 2 and 19 in Game 3.

Horford, who turns 39 next month, has carried the load for Boston’s frontcourt, averaging 32.4 minutes per game this postseason.

“He’s been great,” Mazzulla said. “Al wants to play. He loves playing. We rely on him regardless of what’s going on because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.”

Off the rim

The biggest NBA surprise Monday night didn’t involve the Celtics or Knicks, nor the Western Conference nightcap between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. It came minutes before tipoff at MSG when the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery — and, with it, the opportunity to draft generational prospect Cooper Flagg. The Mavs, a play-in team this season after trading away Luka Doncic, had just a 1.8% chance of landing the top pick. San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte round out the top four.