Jayson Tatum delivered a dominant performance, scoring 40 points to lead the Boston Celtics (37-16) to a commanding 131-104 victory over the New York Knicks (34-18) on Saturday night.
Boston responded strongly after Thursday’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks, winning for the fifth time in their last six games.
Payton Pritchard came off the bench to add 25 points, while Derrick White contributed 17. White and Tatum combined for a decisive 19-3 run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach.
New York had briefly cut an 18-point deficit to 70-67, but Boston’s explosive scoring run pushed the lead to 89-70, ending any hopes of a Knicks comeback.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, but his efforts were not enough to overcome Boston’s relentless offense. Josh Hart added 17 points in the loss.
Tatum shot 13-of-26 from the field, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc, while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. The All-Star forward took charge early and maintained his scoring rhythm throughout the game.
He was particularly effective in the third quarter, scoring 19 of Boston’s 35 points in the period. His offensive efficiency helped the Celtics put the game out of reach before the fourth quarter began.
Pritchard delivered a standout performance, finishing with 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including 6-of-8 from deep. His scoring off the bench gave Boston a significant advantage, as he outscored New York’s reserves by himself.
With Jrue Holiday sidelined due to a shoulder injury and Kristaps Porziņģis ruled out with an illness, Boston relied heavily on its backcourt depth. Pritchard’s contributions ensured that the team did not miss a beat.
The Knicks entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the league, having won seven of their last eight games. However, their defense could not contain Boston’s perimeter shooting, as the Celtics hit 19 three-pointers at a 48.7% clip.
