Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to a commanding 111-89 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday night at TD Garden, pushing the Knicks into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with a 34-19 record. Brunson’s 31 points and eight assists helped the Knicks maintain control for much of the game, ending Boston’s five-game winning streak and reinforcing New York’s playoff contender status.
Defensive Effort Shuts Down Celtics’ Shooting
The Knicks’ defense was stifling, holding Boston to just 89 points — their lowest total of the season. The Celtics struggled from three-point range, shooting only 7-of-41 attempts, which Brunson attributed to the team’s focused defensive execution.
“We were just connected on defense,”
Brunson explained.
“They can get hot fast… they have a lot of shooters, and I think we’re just we’re connected. We try to make things as difficult as possible.”
Although Boston’s overall shooting percentage was limited to 37%, Brunson recognized that some of the outcome involved a bit of fortune, adding,
“Also a little bit of luck. They missed a couple shots, but we know that… they’re going to be ready next time we play.”
Strong Third Quarter Spurs Knicks Into Commanding Lead
The Knicks pulled away with a dominant 20-7 run to end the third quarter, taking an 85-68 advantage into the fourth. Brunson then contributed 10 consecutive points early in the final period to extend the lead beyond 20. Josh Hart chipped in 19 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a solid double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. New York’s ability to outpace Boston in transition and limit second-chance opportunities was a contributing factor in the decisive victory.
Immediate Impact From Newcomer Jose Alvarado
A notable storyline from the game was the debut contribution of guard Jose Alvarado, acquired in the February 5 trade with New Orleans. Brunson emphasized the significance of Alvarado’s arrival. “Yeah. He was great,” Brunson said.
“The impact he had on the game right away was was amazing. That’s what we needed.”
Rookie Mohamed Diawara Also Draws Praise
Brunson also highlighted the growing role of young guard Mohamed Diawara, who has earned playing time on a Knicks squad with postseason ambitions.
“Playing pickup before preseason… I could see that he was really good and really smart and talented,”
Brunson said.
“He’s really coachable… this is only the beginning for him.”
Boston Remains a Formidable Opponent
Despite the lopsided score, Brunson acknowledged the Celtics as a persistent threat in the Eastern Conference, especially following recent roster additions like Nikola Vucevic.
“They’re always going to be a dangerous team,”
Brunson noted.
“From the organization top to bottom… they have championship aspirations and they always will year in and year out.”
Looking Ahead: Knicks Maintain Focus on the Road to the Playoffs
The win gives the Knicks a narrow lead behind the Eastern Conference front-runners, the Detroit Pistons, while Boston falls to third place despite strong performances from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Brunson stressed that the victory is just one step forward for New York.
“We just got to move forward knowing what we need to do as a team going forward regardless of who we play,”
he said.
Next up for the Knicks is a home game against Atlantic Division rival Indiana on Tuesday, with the teams set to meet again in New York on April 9.
