Anytime the New York Knicks (2-0) beat the Boston Celtics (0-2) is a holiday at our house. Tonight at MSG, our heroes creamed them in the second quarter by 28 points, and that was enough to offset a shaky
second half. Final score, Knicks 105, Celtics 95.
Despite the team shooting 38% tonight, all the Knicks starters reached double-figures. Jalen Brunson topped the scoresheet (31 points, five assists, 10-of-20 FG); Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a 26-13 double-double; and, in reserve, Josh Hart overcame his back spasms to grab 14 boards in 19 minutes (redeeming a 1-of-8 shooting night). Deuce McBride started the two-guard but struggled with the shooting part of the assignment. And Tyler Kolek looked good again, until Boston tightened the screws and discombobulated him.
Without Mitchell Robinson again, the Knicks were thin at center. Ariel Hukporti logged a DNP, however (no reason given).
For the Celtics, Brown added a few late scores to reach 23 points but was a -14. Sam Hauser had the same plus-minus and 18 points (6-of-10 3pt). New Celtic Anfernee Simons looked as mediocre as he did in Portland, collecting 10 points (to be fair, he had three steals). In his first NBA game, Hugo González was the only Celtic with a net-positive (+7) and played well despite a quiet box score (six points, four boards, two steals).
First Half
Ugliness abounded to start the game. Boston sprang forth with six straight points—then committed three turnovers in the first three minutes. For the Knicks, Miles McBride started at shooting guard alongside Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns. Deuce couldn’t buy a basket but dished their first two dimes.
Streakiness continued. New York went on a 7–0 burst, then whiffed eight times, allowing the Celts to score eight straight. To level the score, Towns buried consecutive threes midway through the quarter. Here’s the first:
Landry Shamet left the pine first, and Josh Hart followed around the five-minute mark. Those were Hart’s first minutes of the season, and he gobbled up six boards in a hurry. The back looks fine so far.
Despite making five of their first 22 shots, New York kept within two points by the two-minute mark due to Boston missing almost everything from deep. The visitors closed the quarter strong, however, and finished it ahead, 30-22.
To begin the second, Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson joined Bridges, Anunoby, and KAT, and that assortment promptly flipped the score with 11 straight. Kolek played smart defense, made great passes, drove the paint, and took multiple charges (only one was called). The team was +9 in his second quarter minutes. Brogdon who?
Brunson relieved Kolek and, soon after, a Clarkson trey capped a 14-0 Knicks run. From there, New York outscored Beanton 30-8 to close the half with Brown fielding last season’s starting five. Concluding a 42-14 second frame, they entered intermission 64-44. Up by
Both teams shot 40% from the field, but New York’s edge came from dominating the glass (29–20), including 12 offensive rebounds that fueled second-chance points. The Knicks hit more threes (10–7) and were nearly perfect from the line (14-of-15). Their defense was sharp, forcing 10 Boston turnovers that led to 18 points while committing only four of their own. New York’s transition game thrived with a 16–0 (!) fast-break advantage. Boston’s 15 fouls and sloppy ball handling let the Knicks control the tempo and the scoreboard.
For New York, KAT led the scoresheet with 16 points; for Boston, Sam Hauser logged nine first-half points, and nobody had broken double-digits yet.
Second Half
With the Knicks starters back, the Celts tacked eight unanswered on the board. After blanking on six straight from deep, Deuce finally found the bottom of the net to stop Boston’s run, and then more longballs from Brunson and Bridges helped to restore New York’s advantage. By midway through the frame, they were up by 24. Like it? Love it!
New York continued to crash the offensive glass, creating second and third opportunities and keeping Brown’s squad off balance. They managed just 18 points in the quarter but held Boston to 21, maintaining control with an 82–65 lead at the break.
Boston opened the fourth with a quick five-point burst, threatening a comeback as New York’s offense wavered. Towns, however, refused to let the game slip away. In one sequence, he fought for three offensive rebounds in traffic, sank two free throws, and then followed that with a deep jumper. The Celtics shaved the deficit to 12, helped by rookie Hugo González, who provided necessary energy in his season debut. Derrick White, just 2-of-13 from the field, hit a tough three to trim it to 10.
Adding to New York’s growing concerns, Anunoby left the game with about five minutes remaining after suffering an apparent leg injury that prevented him from putting weight on one side. Then, New York committed their 20th turnover by not being able to inbound the ball, and their 10-point lead was starting to look highly vulnerable. With about a minute left, White made a 26-footer to bring the differential to nine. Hart missed at the other end, but Jaylen Brown passed the next possession to the front row, and that signaled the end of the night.
Up Next
New York will travel to Miami to face the Heat on Sunday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
