NEW YORK, NY — Mike Brown debuted a new lineup for the New York Knicks Friday night against the Boston Celtics, inserting Miles McBride into the starting five. The move paid off for the new head coach, as the Knicks defeated the Celtics 105-95.
For the second straight game, Brown went with an 11-man rotation, with each reserve playing at least 13 minutes. Josh Hart, in his return to the court, led the bench with 19 minutes of action.
With Mitchell Robinson sidelined for the second consecutive game due to what the team is calling (left ankle injury management), Hart made his season debut after missing three weeks with a back injury suffered in the preseason.
In 19 minutes, Hart struggled offensively but grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds—including six offensive boards—giving the Knicks crucial second and third-chance opportunities. In a 10-point game, those extra possessions proved to be the difference between a win and a loss. Hart brought his usual high energy, serving as the spark off the bench. It’s fair to argue that without Hart’s rebounding, the Knicks might not have pulled out the victory.
As a team, the Knicks out-rebounded the Celtics 53-37, including 21 offensive-rebounds, converting those into 21 second-chance points. After the game, Hart spoke to the media about how he felt after his return.
“Sore, extremely,” he said. “I knew the offense was going to be a little shaky.”
Josh Hart made his regular season debut Friday night and recorded 14 rebounds as the Knicks defeated the Celtics – Image Credit: NBA
Brown praised Hart’s effort postgame.
“Josh, man, a monster. He guarded everybody,” Brown said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this before—14 rebounds in 19 minutes.”
Karl-Anthony Towns also played a major role in the rebounding battle, securing 13 boards—six of them offensive—along with 26 points, three assists, and one block. The 29-year-old Dominican-American did, however, commit five turnovers, something Towns would admit he needs to improve. He came up big when it mattered, shooting 4-for-6 from three-point range and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Knicks shot 22-for-25 from the line (88 percent).
Towns started and played the entire game at center. When asked about the difference between playing center versus power forward, Towns said:
“Just different ways to impact the game. For me, I want to impact winning—whatever it costs.”
The Knicks’ offense struggled early, shooting just 31 percent in the first quarter and allowing the Celtics to take an eight-point lead. But showing trust in his bench, Brown’s Knicks went on a 17-0 run, outscoring Boston 42-14 in the second quarter—the only period in which New York outscored its opponent. It looked like the Knicks were on their way to a blowout at the Garden, but Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, one of the league’s best, refused to let his team quit after trailing by as many as 24 points.
One of the best coaches in the NBA Joe Mazzulla had the Celtics firing on all cylinders in the third quarter but it still wasn’t enough to overcome their deficit – Image Credit: NBA
The Knicks played a sloppy third quarter, turning the ball over six times and being outscored 21-18, allowing Boston to cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth.
Jalen Brunson finished with 31 points, five assists, and three rebounds—turning into “Captain Clutch” in the fourth quarter with 13 points, including a dagger three that sealed the win. After the game, Brunson discussed how the Knicks’ defense has fueled their offense and how he’s adapting under Brown’s system.
“It starts with defense,” he said. “We can’t have fast-break points if we’re not getting stops. Playing basketball schematically has changed a little bit, but my mentality will never. If that changes, it’s time to think otherwise.”
Through two games, excitement around this Knicks team is sky-high. Brown’s commitment to an 11-man rotation—something new for this roster—has allowed the starters to stay fresh for crunch time. Fatigue in fourth quarters hurt the Knicks last postseason against the Indiana Pacers, but early signs suggest Brown’s deeper rotation could solve that issue.
After the game, Brown shared his thoughts on the team’s effort and evolving offense.
“Our guys stayed with it — they didn’t go away from the way we play basketball,” Brown said. “We haven’t shot the ball well quite yet, but the 21 offensive rebounds… the effort on the glass is helping us generate wins while we’re still trying to find the right way to play offensively.”
Tyler Kolek played 13 crucial minutes on the night and was part of the Knicks’ 17-0 run in the second quarter, showing he can be a pesky defender while also proving capable of running an NBA offense. He finished with four assists and one steal. His stats may not jump off the page, but Kolek’s play contributed to the team’s victory and earned him more trust from his head coach.
With the win on Friday night, the Knicks improved to 2-0 on the early 2025-2026 NBA regular season – Image Credit: NBA
OG Anunoby limped off the court midway through the fourth quarter with a cramp, but Brown told reporters afterward that Anunoby would have been able to return if needed.
The Knicks now head out on their first road trip of the season, traveling to Miami to face the Heat on Sunday at the Kaseya Center—or, as some Knicks fans call it, “MSG South.” Robinson’s status remains uncertain, and it’s still unclear if New York will have its full starting five available. If not, Brown will continue to lean on his bench early in the season to see what he truly has to work with.
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