Knicks Lose to Celtics to Start 0-2, Box Score Stats, Highlights for Brunson, Tatum, PG, Top Players

The Boston Celtics held off a late push from Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a thrilling Friday night showdown, securing a 107-103 win powered by 36 points from Jayson Tatum in front of the home crowd.

Ahead of the game, the defending champion Knicks were 2.5-point underdogs on the road against the Celtics, per FanDuel Sportsbook , and fell short despite a furious late comeback attempt.

Both teams have won a championship in the past three years, with New York winning last season and Boston in 2024. However, both entered the matchup after season-opening losses, looking for their first win of the season.

Tatum finished with 36 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals to help lift the Celtics to their first win of the season after dropping their opener to the Detroit Pistons. His strong performance helped Boston fend off a late Knicks rally and avoid another comeback defeat.

Paul George added 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists in his home debut in Boston, giving the Celtics another key contributor in their hard-fought win.

Neemias Queta delivered a standout performance off the bench, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and three blocks to give Boston a boost while its starters Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Walsh struggled, combining for nine points.

For New York, Brunson finished with 19 points, four assists and two blocks as the Knicks fell to 0-2 on the season following their championship run last year.

Towns led the Knicks with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range, while adding 10 rebounds.

OG Anunoby contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, recording a double-double. Miles McBride delivered a standout performance off the bench, scoring 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, helping make up for Mikal Bridges' struggles, as Bridges finished scoreless on 0-of-8 shooting.

The Celtics held a narrow one-point lead over the Knicks at halftime, fueled by Tatum's 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, six rebounds and a strong bench presence that contributed 26 points.

The Knicks were led by Towns, who had 12 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Brunson added seven points, while Landry Shamet and McBride combined for 21 off the bench.

The Celtics pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 33-24 to take a 10-point lead into the fourth.

The Knicks mounted a furious comeback, closing the gap with a 14-5 run to pull within one point with 1:41 remaining. But, Tatum answered with five points in less than 30 seconds, shutting down New York's rally and sealing the Celtics' hard-fought win.

The Celtics will host the Chicago Bulls on Monday, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.