Jalen Brunson poured in 31 points and Josh Hart added 19 as the New York Knicks dominated the Boston Celtics 111-89 on Sunday night, snapping Boston’s five-game winning streak.
Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds for New York, which took control early and never trailed over the final 42 minutes. Mikal Bridges scored 14 points, newly acquired Jose Alvarado finished with 12, and the Knicks shot 40% from 3-point range (14 of 35) to keep the Celtics at arm’s length all night.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 26 points and Derrick White added 19, but the Celtics struggled mightily from the perimeter, shooting just 7 of 41 (17.1%) from deep and 37% overall. With Sam Hauser sidelined, Baylor Scheierman started and recorded 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The matchup featured two of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders, with Boston entering the night holding a one-game edge over New York for second place. The Knicks steadily widened the gap, closing the third quarter on a 20-7 run to take an 85-68 lead into the fourth.
Brunson put the game away early in the final period, scoring 10 straight points to stretch the lead to 23 with four minutes remaining. New York also shrugged off Boston’s return to the “Hack-a-Robinson” strategy. Mitchell Robinson, a career 51% free-throw shooter, missed all four of his first-half attempts but calmly knocked down both chances late in the third to blunt the tactic.
New York carried a 60-53 lead into halftime behind Brunson’s 19 first-half points. Boston had trimmed a 17-point deficit to a two-possession game despite shooting just 22.7% from 3 in the opening two quarters, but the Celtics never found a rhythm after the break.
The Knicks host Indiana on Tuesday night, while the Celtics return home to face Chicago on Wednesday.
