The Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 114-98 on Monday night, led by Jayson Tatum (35 points), Jaylen Brown (22 points), and Kristaps Porzingis (21 points). 

In the fourth quarter, Tatum scored 17 points as Boston extended its advantage from 91-88 to 17. After shooting 0-for-7 from 3-point range, he went 4-for-5 in the final eight minutes to help the Knicks regain a three-point lead. 

After starting the season 2-4, including a defeat to Boston in their season opener, the Knicks have won three straight games behind 26-point performances from Jalen Brunson and 25-point, 9-rebound efforts from Julius Randle. RJ Barrett, who had a migraine and missed the second night of a back-to-back for New York, did not play. 

The Knicks led by eight with 75 seconds left in the second quarter until Boston made three straight baskets, scoring nine of the last 11 points of the half and trimming it to 53-52 on Brown’s 3-pointer at the buzzer. 

Brunson’s long 3-pointer with 8:02 remaining cut Boston’s lead to 91-88. Earlier in the third quarter, the Celtics had led by as many as 10. Tatum replied with a step-back 3 and drew the foul, giving Boston a 95-88 lead. With a 3-pointer, Jrue Holiday put the Bulls up by 10.

In the third quarter, Holiday made a 3-pointer that put him over the 15,000-point mark for his career. 

With roughly five minutes left in the game, Tatum was penalized for a technical for contesting a foul call. 

New York Knicks Can’t Bear It Without RJ Barrett, Fall to Boston Celtics

The red New York squad was unable to halt the winning streak of the blue New England squad.

Despite putting up a valiant effort despite playing without RJ Barrett (who was sidelined by a migraine), the New York Knicks fell to the Boston Celtics by a score of 114-98 on Monday night in Boston. With the victory, Boston extended its home record to 5-0 on the season and its record against the Knicks to 2-0. The Knicks (5-5) lost their third straight game and started their five-game road trip with a loss. 

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored 26 points to lead the offense in the eight-man lineup; Julius Randle scored 25 points and grabbed nine boards. After three games without Barrett, New York still hasn’t won one. 

The Celtics (8-2) hosted a Boston three-party, making 19 of 42 shots after Barrett had all but withdrawn his invitation. Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 35 points on the night, including five three-pointers. Almost half of his points came in the fourth quarter to help the Knicks avoid an upset. 

Behind him on the bench, Sam Hauser added four three-pointers, and top rookies Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis each had three. With 22 points, Jaylen Brown was the team’s second top scorer.

With a terrific first half, highlighted by Brunson’s 11-point first quarter, New York made it plain that it would not fold without Barrett. After the Knicks made a comeback in the second, Boston pulled away in the fourth by outscoring them by 17 points. 

On Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG), the Knicks will travel to Atlanta to take on the Hawks in the second leg of their road trip.