Jerian Grant scores career high as the Knicks defeat the Celtics 120-114

Career-high 16 points to go with 8 dimes for @jeriangrant in tonight's win! #TurnbackTuesday

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Jan 12, 2016 at 8:33pm PST

Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points when he left the court, 19 seconds into the third quarter, after rolling his right ankle over a ref’s foot, and didn’t return. But when that happened, the Knicks were already leading Celtics by 12. The good news is the x-rays turned out negative, the great news is that in spite of him missing, New York played one of their best games in seasons!

“Every guy that touched the floor helped us in some way, even if it was for two or three minutes.”

– Derek Fisher

With Kristaps Porzingis in foul trouble, sitting throughout most of the second half, it was Jerian Grant who stepped in to the rescue. Grant scored 10 of his career high 16 points in the last quarter plus a buzzer beater as the third quarter ended. He was 5-6 from the field and 5-6 from the free throw line and added 8 assists as well.

“He stepped up big time and controlled our team. He made big plays and was a big part of why we won the game.”

– Carmelo Anthony (on Jerian Grant)

Porzingis showed once again why he received two consecutive times the award for Eastern Conference’s Rookie of the Month and while he was on the court he scored 16 points – shooting 6-8 from the field, nailed a long distance 3 pointer and blocked three Celtic players in about 5 seconds.

Arron Afflalo had another tremendous game in the absence of Anthony & Porzingis, and scored 10 of his total 24 points in the fourth quarter. Derrick Williams continued his solid performance and had his first double-double game of the season, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, off the bench.

The Celtics just couldn’t do a thing to stop the Knicks, in spite of Isaiah Thomas‘ effort. Thomas scored 34 points for Boston but New York shot 72 percent in the last quarter.

The Knicks now evened their W/L and have the chance of going over .500 for the first time since November 23rd, when they lost to Miami and dropped 8-7.

New York will play in Brooklyn tonight, and on Saturday will face Matt Barnes’ Grizzlies in Memphis, before returning again to Madison Square Garden.