Bridges lights it up, but Knicks fall short in Boston 123-117

Mikal Bridges did everything in his power to drag the Knicks toward a comeback, torching the Celtics for 35 points on a blistering 8-of-12 from deep. But even with his fourth-quarter surge and a furious late push, New York couldn’t contain Jaylen Brown or find enough offense from its lead guard, ultimately falling 123-117 at TD Garden.

The difference came down to closing power, and Boston had more of it. Jaylen Brown was unstoppable all night, putting up a game-high 42 points and responding every time the Knicks threatened to flip the momentum. Whenever Bridges hit a three, Brown seemed to answer with a drive, a pull-up, a dunk – whatever the moment called for. The game evolved into a Brown-versus-Bridges showcase, but Boston’s star simply had more around him.

The Knicks, meanwhile, felt the impact of Jalen Brunson’s off night. He dished out 11 assists, but the shooting just never arrived. Brunson finished 6-of-21 from the field and 1-of-8 from three, totaling 15 points in a night where every miss felt heavier than usual. With Boston’s defense swarming Towns inside and Bridges doing the bulk of the scoring from the perimeter, those shots mattered.

Ironically, the game began with the Knicks looking like the sharper team. They jumped out to a 19-6 lead and eventually stretched it to 39-25 early in the second quarter. But that cushion evaporated in a flash when the Celtics answered with a furious 24-7 run to take a 49-46 lead. Once Boston grabbed that edge, they never let it go.

By the end of the third quarter, the Celtics were up 94-76, and the entire night looked headed toward a blowout. But what followed was the Knicks’ best punch. Bridges erupted for 17 points in the fourth, and Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 11 of his 29, dragging New York back into contention. When Bridges drilled a three to cut it to 113-110 with 2:40 left, the loudest sound in TD Garden was the roar of Knicks fans erupting in disbelief and hope.

But the comeback stalled. Brunson missed consecutive floaters, Boston capitalized with six straight points, and the game slipped out of reach. Bridges drilled another three with 45 seconds left to make it 119-115, but the Celtics executed a crucial possession with 13 seconds remaining to put it away for good.

Up-next: Knicks (13-7) will return to Madison Square Garden to take on the Hornets (6-15) tonight.