Jaylen Brown Drops 42 as Celtics Beat Knicks 123-117/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Jaylen Brown exploded for a season-high 42 points to lead the Boston Celtics past the New York Knicks 123-117 in a tense rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics overcame a slow start and held off a furious fourth-quarter Knicks rally. Mikal Bridges’ late 3-point surge fell short as Boston closed strong.
Celtics vs. Knicks Game Quick Looks
- Jaylen Brown scored season-high 42 points with game-sealing dunk
- Derrick White added 22 points, 7 in final four minutes
- Celtics fended off Knicks’ 12-0 fourth-quarter run
- Mikal Bridges scored 35, including 17 in the final quarter
- Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points for New York
- Jordan Walsh contributed key rebounds and putbacks in the fourth
- Celtics have now beaten four of East’s top six teams
- Boston improves after early 17-4 deficit and 14-point first-quarter hole
Deep Look: Celtics Withstand Knicks’ Late Surge to Win 123-117 in East Semifinal Rematch
BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown delivered his best performance of the season Tuesday night, scoring 42 points and slamming home a breakaway dunk in the final seconds to help the Boston Celtics survive a fierce fourth-quarter rally from the New York Knicks. The 123-117 victory marked a satisfying encore to last season’s playoff series and another quality win against a top Eastern Conference opponent.
The Celtics (now winners of four of their last five) were tested late but made crucial plays in the closing minutes to fend off the surging Knicks, who entered the game riding a four-game winning streak.
Brown Dominates on Both Ends
After a sluggish start for Boston, Jaylen Brown came alive, scoring 18 points in the second quarter and another 15 in the third to fuel the Celtics’ turnaround. With Boston trailing 39-25 early, Brown helped spark a 12-0 run and later capped a 7-0 spurt with a dunk that gave the Celtics their first lead of the night at 47-46.
He sealed the win in the final seconds, breaking free for an emphatic dunk that brought the home crowd to its feet.
Knicks Rally Late
Despite being down by as many as 18 points, the Knicks came storming back in the fourth behind Mikal Bridges, who caught fire and finished with 35 points, including 17 in the final frame. He drained 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, nearly lifting New York to a comeback win.
Bridges hit a triple and then knocked down three free throws before drilling another three-pointer to complete a 12-0 run that pulled New York within 102-99 with just under five minutes to play.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points for the Knicks, but New York couldn’t close the gap in the final minute.
Derrick White and Boston’s Late Composure
Derrick White came up clutch, scoring seven of his 22 points in the final four minutes. His steady hand, combined with strong play from rookie Jordan Walsh, helped Boston recover after the Knicks trimmed the lead to three.
Josh Minott’s corner three out of a timeout shifted momentum back to the Celtics, and Walsh followed with back-to-back putback buckets to rebuild an eight-point cushion.
Even after Bridges hit another three to make it a four-point game with 46 seconds left, his next shot missed, squashing the Knicks’ comeback bid.
Early Struggles, Strong Finish
The Knicks started hot, opening the game on a 17-4 run and holding a 39-25 lead late in the first. But Boston quickly answered behind Brown’s scoring surge and timely contributions from their bench.
The Celtics showed resilience, outscoring New York 38-20 in the second quarter to take a 63-59 halftime lead. They carried that momentum through the third, leading by 18 entering the final period before the Knicks’ late push.
Boston continues its strong start to the season, showing they can win gritty, close games even when challenged late.
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