Timely execution and clutch shot-making lifted the Knicks past Boston as they continue to build momentum toward the postseason.
The New York Knicks secured a hard fought 112-106 win over the Boston Celtics, leaning on balanced scoring and late-game composure to take another important step in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 25 points and 10 assists, controlling the tempo and delivering when the Knicks needed him the most. Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, making a major impact despite having a slow offensive start. Josh Hart proved to be a key difference-maker, scoring 26 points and knocking down five three-pointers, including two big shots late that helped seal the victory.
For Boston, Jayson Tatum got to make his first appearance at Madison Square Garden since tearing his Achilles in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals last year and he didn’t disappoint. The All-Star dropped a near triple-double as he put up 24 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.
Aside from him, the other key contributors for the Celtics were Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman. Prichard had 23 points with 6 assists to go along with that while Scheierman tied his career-high adding on his 20 points to the scoreboard as well.
The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown, who was ruled out prior to the game, forcing Boston to adjust its rotation against a Knicks team that has been trending upward.
Even without one of their top scorers, the Celtics came out strong, setting the tone early and challenging the Knicks on both ends of the floor. The first half featured multiple momentum swings, with both teams trading runs and neither side was able to create much separation.
Coming out of the break, the Knicks found a rhythm offensively, moving the ball effectively and catching fire right away in order to take a larger lead. Their ability to space the floor and trust one another created opportunities for them to take control over the game.
However, Boston wouldn’t go away easily and they responded back with some offense of their own. They eventually regained a narrow edge over the Knicks heading into the fourth which set the stage for a tight finish.
Down the stretch, the Knicks made the plays they needed. Whether it was a key defensive stop or a well-executed three-pointer, they were composed and didn’t crack under the pressure which is something head coach Mike Brown highlighted after the game.
“Jalen is great without the basketball, I mean his ability to get open because he understands angles is second to none,” said Brown. “And when you have a passer like Kat who can hand it off or pass late to you it makes that play really effective.”
That connection between Brunson and Towns played a key role in creating clean looks, especially late in the game when spacing and timing became even more important.
The victory also marked the Knicks 52nd win of the season which is a milestone moment for coach Brown as he has now passed Pat Riley for the most wins by a Knicks head coach in their first season. More importantly though, it reflected the growth his team has shown throughout their recent games.
“We’re heading in the direction of where we need to be,” Brown said. “I like the climb that we’ve made in the last week or so, the last three or four games, and we have a couple more games to get there. For us we will take it one game at a time, but we got these two left and we’d like to win both of them. When we lace them up, we are playing to win.”
With the victory, the Knicks remain in third place in the Eastern Conference, holding a one-game lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers with two games left to go. With matchups against the Toronto Raptors and the Charlotte Hornets still ahead, the path forward is simple.
Win, and everything takes care of itself.
