Key Takeaways

• Jayson Tatum finished with 36 points, but the key breakout came in the second half, where he tallied 25 and helped Boston stave off a late Knicks push.
• Boston led by as many as 10 after a 33-24 third quarter, turning a tight halftime game into a more comfortable cushion before New York trimmed the margin late.
• New York received 22 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and had other double-figure contributions from Julius Randle, Deuce McBride, and Jalen Brunson, who each produced in the 19-20 point range.
• A pivotal sequence included Giannis? actually not; Queta capitalized on a turnover to extend the Celtics’ edge, while Brunson’s floater briefly responded before Tatum answered with a go-ahead bucket with 1:11 left.
• OG Anunoby finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, helping the Celtics stabilize on both ends and contributing to the late-game defensive and distributing efforts that complemented Tatum’s scoring.
• Mitchell Robinson, despite early foul trouble, logged a productive stretch for New York with timely stops and an alley-oop connection on a sequence against his former team, underscoring the Knicks’ resilience in the closing minutes.
• The outcome extended Boston’s home display against New York as both teams turn the page toward their next assignments.