Basketball, NBA

Knicks Late Push Falls Short as Celtics Hand Champs Another Loss

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Knicks left another close game with questions surrounding their offense, falling 107-103 to the Boston Celtics despite a late push Friday night at TD Garden.

As Boston closed the third quarter on a 13-4 run, building a 10-point advantage that New York could not overcome, Jayson Tatum scored 25 of his game high 36 points after halftime.

The defending champions are 0-2, matching the San Antonio Spurs’ start after the teams met in last season’s NBA Finals.

JT DELIVERS IN THE CLUTCH 🔥

Three straight buckets late in the 4Q as he finishes with 36 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST and 3 STL!

The @celtics secure the win against the Knicks 👏 pic.twitter.com/WVQlQqpdWM

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2026

New York shot 45% from the field and committed 18 turnovers, allowing Boston to score 19 points off those mistakes. Even a productive night from beyond the arc—16-for-40 (40%)—could not cover for possessions lost to Boston’s pressure.

The national televised matchup on Prime Video also marked Mitchell Robinson’s first appearance against the franchise where he spent his first eight NBA seasons. He finished with four points, four rebounds and one block.

Before tip-off, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla described Robinson as someone who “wants to win” and “wants to be a good teammate.”

All love between Mitchell Robinson and his former Knicks teammates 🥹 pic.twitter.com/mDQSv8sD0B

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2026

Robinson will receive his Knicks championship ring when Boston visits Madison Square Garden later this season.

Early struggles from Bridges and Brunson

In the loss, a tough one where he finished scoreless over nearly 22 minutes, Mikal Bridges missed all eight shots, including five three-point attempts. Through two games, Bridges has four points on 2-for-16 shooting and has missed all seven attempts from three point land.

Despite the rough start, Knicks head coach Mike Brown continued to encourage him afterward, stating, “He’s getting the looks that he needs to get, he’s just gotta knock them down now.”

Jalen Brunson, shooting 13-for-36, or 36.1%, through two games, has also struggled to establish his usual offensive rhythm, scoring 19 points against Boston Friday.

open lane for jb 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ji3mgNM74p

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 24, 2026

Some of that was due to Jordan Walsh’s second-half scrappy defense against Brunson, which Mazzula credited postgame.

“I thought Jordan’s start of the second half was important for us,” Mazzulla noted. “He had the layup in transition. He had the catch-and-shoot 3, and he had some great defensive possessions. Even when he fouled, we need that type of physicality.”

KAT produces through foul trouble

Dominican-American Karl-Anthony Towns gave New York its most efficient scoring option, piling up a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 9-for-13 from the field and made two of three three-point attempts, stretching Boston’s defense and challenging his former teammate Robinson away from the basket.

However, foul trouble again interrupted his night as Towns picked up three fouls before halftime, prompting Brown to turn to third-string center James Wiseman for two minutes.

second double-double of the season for the big fella 👏

22 PTS | 10 REB pic.twitter.com/Mz6U5VFUpd

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 24, 2026

Though Brown allowed him to play through the danger late while New York chased Boston, Towns finished with five fouls.

OG Anunoby delivered an offensive bounce-back performance with 20 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. He also contributed eight assists, giving the Knicks another avenue to generate offense.

McBride supplies the spark

Miles “Deuce” McBride rebounded from the season opener loss to Philadelphia with 20 points, shooting 6-for-9 overall and 6-for-8 from three-point range. His third-quarter sequence captured his impact: McBride saved a loose ball near the sideline, then finished the possession with a three-pointer.

Alongside KAT, he supplied the scoring that kept New York within reach though the Knicks still could not sustain enough clean possessions to finish the comeback.