Jayson Tatum saved the day for the Celtics on Friday night with two clutch buckets.
JAYSON TATUM TOOK OVER IN THE 4TH TO BEAT THE KNICKS 😳 36 PTS and the W! https://t.co/z2SrlW47He
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 24, 2026
His 36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists led the way as the Celtics beat the defending champs, 107-103.
The Celtics started their same five from the opener, Derrick White, Paul George, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum and former Knick Mitchell Robinson. Devin Carter once again did not play for Boston. The Knicks started their championship
five of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns. Every Knick was available in this one.
Robinson committed two quick fouls and had to sit 3 minutes into the game, he was replaced by Neemias Queta.
In fact, it was a hack show for the Celtics early in the game, the Knicks were in the bonus at the 7:25 mark in the first quarter.
It was an up and down athlete for the Celtics who trailed 27-26, Jayson Tatum led the team with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. No one else had more than one field goal in the period.
The 2nd quarter opened with two Luka Garza buckets, one off of an offensive rebound and one three pointer to put the C’s up 4.
The Celtics defense was flying around but offense wasn’t great in the 2nd quarter. Payton Pritchard couldn’t get it going and the Celtics had a few turnovers.
It was a low scoring 2nd quarter but a Paul George buzzer beater put the Celtics up 1 at the half, 50-49. Jayson Tatum led the team with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while Neemias Queta had 7 points and 4 rebounds but was 2-6 from the field.
One thing the Celtics struggled with in the first half was the defensive glass. The Knicks had a 42.9% offensive rebounding rate in the first half, according to cleaning the glass.
Bad! https://t.co/XQcO8jV2Rq
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) October 24, 2026
The offense opened up a bit for the Celtics in the 2nd half. Back to back good Jayson Tatum drives put the Celtics up 7 at the 7:11 mark in the 3rd quarter.
Deuce McBride is a new Celtics killer. He had 11 points and was 3/4 from three point range off of the Knicks bench after he made an acrobatic play to save the ball and he hit a three pointer.
DEUCE MCBRIDE. https://t.co/aLBq60p570
— Fireside Knicks (@FiresideKnicks) October 24, 2026
McBride finished the game 6/8 from three.
The third quarter also saw a Neemias Queta make a three pointer!
— Neemias Queta 88 (@GNeemiasQueta88) October 24, 2026Great stuff from Neemy. Big screen and a strong drive and finish on the roll pic.twitter.com/HOvWe8l2uf
— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) October 24, 2026
A 13-4 run to cap the quarter gave the Celtics a 10 point lead entering the 4th quarter, they led 83-73. A monster third quarter from Jayson Tatum put him at 27 points and 9 rebounds to lead Boston.
Mitchell Robinson had back to back nice plays, first a big block on Karl-Anthony Towns and then a lob dunk on a not great pass from Derrick White. He then immediately picked up his 5th foul and had to sit.
This was a clutch game as Knicks made it a 5 point game just as 5 minutes were on the clock.
A tough Jalen Brunson shot cut the Celtics lead to 1 with 1:41 to go before Jayson Tatum hit a tough fallaway shot to put the Celtics up 3, 101-98.
Jayson Tatum took over the game late. Hitting a tough long two in the corner and a three right over the head of Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks did answer both times so the Celtics were still only up 3 as Payton Pritchard went to the line.
He went 1/2, put the Celtics up 4 and the Knicks didn’t score the rest of the way.
Celtics win, 107-103.
mood at the end of the game. https://t.co/sHDz8Va5vC
— jack (@janderson22_) October 24, 2026
The story was Tatum but there were contributions everywhere. Both Paul George and Neemias Queta had 15 points and the Celtics defense was awesome.
Boston shot 46% from the field and 39% from three while the Knicks shot 44% from the field and 40% from three. The Celtics next game is Monday at 7:30pm/EST from TD Garden against the Chicago Bulls.
