Knicks ride huge second quarter, hold off Celtics 105–95 for second straight Win

NEW YORK – The Knicks are starting this season with a statement – and a little redemption mixed in. Just a few months removed from a playoff clash that left them scarred and hungry, New York took down the Boston Celtics 105-95 at Madison Square Garden, powered by Jalen Brunson’s brilliance, Karl-Anthony Towns’ dominance, and a second quarter that could only be described as a demolition.

Brunson dropped 31 points, while Towns went to work inside with 26 points and 13 rebounds, as the Knicks grabbed their second straight win to open the year. It wasn’t flawless – not even close – but it showed something new about Mike Brown’s squad: balance, poise, and a rotation that looks built for the long run.

The story of the night, though, wasn’t just offense. It was the return of Josh Hart, who had missed most preseason and the opener with a back injury. Coming off the bench, he instantly reminded everyone what makes him so vital to this team. In just 19 minutes, Hart pulled down 14 rebounds – yes, 14 – while defending everyone from wings to bigs. He didn’t need to score to make an impact; he just did everything else.

“Josh, man, monster, monster, monster.(…) Not only did he guard everybody, he had six offensive rebounds, eight defensive. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this before, 14 rebounds in 19 minutes, just a phenomenal, phenomenal game doing the dirty stuff by Josh.”

– Mike Brown

The game turned early – specifically in the second quarter, when the Knicks caught fire and outscored Boston 42-14. It was a blitz of smart ball movement, defensive intensity, and a whole lot of Brunson. The Knicks led 82-58 midway through the third, and for a moment, it looked like they were ready to run Boston out of the Garden.

But, as last spring’s playoffs taught everyone, no lead is safe when these two teams meet. The Celtics, down 64-44 at halftime, started the second half on an 8-0 run. New York answered with an 18-6 burst of its own, but Boston refused to fold. The Knicks went scoreless for nearly six minutes bridging the third and fourth quarters, allowing the Celtics to creep back in.

From there, it was a dogfight. Boston’s ball movement sharpened, their pace quickened, and they chipped away at the lead. But every time the game seemed to tilt, New York had an answer. When the Celtics finally cut the deficit to single digits late, Brunson calmly buried a dagger three with 1:24 left – his 31st point of the night – to make it 104-92 and seal the win.

It was far from a one-man show, though. Towns powered through double teams and logged yet another double-double, while Mikal Bridges quietly played his role to perfection – 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, defending, cutting, spacing, and doing all the connective work that makes this team tick. Jordan Clarkson added 6 points and 3 rebounds off the bench, finishing +12 in his minutes.

Coach Mike Brown went with a 10-man rotation again, keeping everyone involved. Every player hit double-digit minutes, and all five starters finished in double figures. The result? Fresh legs, consistent energy, and a team that looked sharper down the stretch than Boston – something rare in the Thibodeau years.

The Celtics, still adjusting to life without Jayson Tatum, leaned heavily on Jaylen Brown, who finished with 23 points. Sam Hauser provided a spark with 18 off the bench, and Derrick White added 15, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Knicks’ physicality. New York dominated the glass 53–37, including a staggering 21 offensive rebounds to just 8 for the Celtics.

In a rivalry that’s starting to feel like it has new life, this one mattered more than your average early-season win. The Knicks didn’t just outlast the Celtics – they imposed their will. And if this is what Mike Brown’s brand of basketball looks like in October, the rest of the East might want to start paying attention now.