Jaylen Brown led the charge with 30 points, while Kristaps Porzingis added 22, propelling the Boston Celtics to a dominant 116-102 victory over the New York Knicks during Saturday’s NBA action. This win marked their eighth straight triumph, solidifying their position at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 45-12 record, eight games clear of any other team.
Brown, who was efficient with a 13 for 24 shooting performance and snagged eight rebounds, played down the significance of their commanding lead in the standings as the postseason approaches, emphasizing that playoff success would hinge more on matchups and the importance of maintaining home-court advantage.
“When it comes down to the playoffs, none of that stuff really matters,” Brown said. “I feel like it’s going to be about matchups, it’s going to be about playing hard. Obviously, home court (advantage) matters. So, that is key. You get into the thick of it, you’ve got to win basketball games.”
Jayson Tatum contributed 19 points, six assists, and six rebounds, with Derrick White chipping in 13 points for Boston. The Celtics are on an impressive run, winning 10 of their last 11 games. Celtics coach Joe Mazzula praised Tatum’s all-around play, particularly his pick-and-roll execution and defensive efforts.
“I thought today was a beautiful display of basketball from Jayson,” Mazzula said. “It won’t go into the most valuable category, but his ability to control the game with his pick-and-roll pace, his pick-and-roll passing, his defense. He put himself on (Jalen) Brunson, welcoming 2-on-1s and creating for others was great. My hats off to him for knowing that’s a way for us to win.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks Updates
Jalen Brunson scored 34 points for the Knicks, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a season sweep by the Celtics in their four-game series. The game was competitive until a pivotal moment in the second half when Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis ignited a 30-11 run to pull away from the Knicks decisively.
The Knicks attempted to rally back with a 13-2 spurt late in the game, cutting the Celtics’ lead to nine points. However, Boston quickly regained control, leveraging Knicks’ turnovers and missed shots to secure the win with a 10-0 run, extending the lead to 109-90.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks Updates
Porzingis, facing boos from Knicks fans reminiscent of his draft night, expressed his preference for any emotional response over apathy, highlighting the game’s intensity and the team’s focused performance.
“I prefer any kind of emotion over no emotion,” Porzingis said. “If it’s cheers or boos, I want them. Tonight was no different. Big game, (national) TV game, fans were into it, and we just took care of business.”
Brown’s strong start, with 20 points in the first half, set the tone for Boston, which showcased sharp shooting throughout the game.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks Updates
Looking ahead, the Celtics are set to host the Philadelphia 76ers, while the Knicks will face the Detroit Pistons at home in their next matchups.
