The Boston Celtics overcame an early deficit to defeat the New York Knicks 123-117 Tuesday at TD Garden, with Jaylen Brown scoring a season-high 42 points. Knicks head coach Mike Brown emphasized that his team’s second- and third-quarter lapses were critical in allowing Boston to take control.
“I thought we came out in the first quarter and did a great job with our physicality and moving the basketball, but in the second and third we didn’t do that,” Brown said. He highlighted the contributions of Celtics bench players, noting that Josh Minott and Sam Hauser combined for five-of-eight from three-point range.
Brown also credited Jordan Walsh for his impact on the offensive glass. “He had four offensive rebounds and really impacted the game,” Brown said, but added that defensive struggles in the paint were costly, as Boston scored 56 points inside while shooting just 32.5% from three.
The Knicks committed 12 turnovers, leading to 25 points for Boston. “Every turnover we had, they made us pay,” Brown said, pointing to floor balance issues and missed rotations that allowed easy baskets.
Brown addressed Jalen Brunson’s off-night shooting, noting he “got the normal looks he normally takes” and encouraged persistence. Defensive communication and rotations were also a concern. “There were a couple of communication issues, and our shifts weren’t great,” Brown said, referring to moments when Celtics players split defenders or got past coverage.
Offensively, Brown praised Mikal Bridges for his aggressiveness. “He was feeling it and our guys did a great job trying to find him… he hit some big shots to will us back into the game,” Brown said. He also explained lineup adjustments intended to protect the paint while maintaining offensive flow.
Boston trailed 39-25 early but used Brown’s 18 points in the second quarter and 15 more in the third to swing momentum. Derrick White added 22 points, including seven in the final four minutes, while Walsh’s putbacks and Minott’s timely three-pointer helped Boston withstand New York’s late 12-0 run.
The Celtics shot 56% overall and 32% from three-point range, outrebounding the Knicks 38-33 and recording 27 assists. New York hit 51% of their shots and 43% from deep, with Bridges scoring 35 points and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 29.
Boston improves to 15-6, continuing their strong Eastern Conference start, while New York falls to 8-13, seeking to tighten defensive rotations and improve offensive consistency in upcoming games.
