Tatum scores 36 as Celtics beat Knicks 107-103

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including an 18-footer and a 3-pointer in the final 50 seconds, to lift the Boston Celtics to a 107-103 win over the New York Knicks on Friday, October 23.

Tatum shot 14 of 26 and added nine rebounds and seven assists. Boston scored 33 points in the third quarter and led 86-74 early in the fourth, its largest lead of the night, at TD Garden.

New York pulled within 99-98 on Jalen Brunson's 11-foot pullup jumper. Tatum answered with a 19-footer, then hit an 18-footer with 49.7 seconds left for a 103-98 lead.

OG Anunoby's two free throws made it 103-100, and Tatum's 25-foot 3-pointer with 30.2 seconds left restored a six-point margin. Miles McBride hit a 3-pointer with 13.9 seconds left to cut it to 106-103, and Payton Pritchard made one of two free throws for the final margin.

Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 10 rebounds. McBride came off the bench for 20 points and made six of his eight 3-pointers. Anunoby had 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Brunson scored 19 on 7-of-17 shooting.

Both teams shot about the same from the field, but Boston turned the ball over 10 times to New York's 16, which cost the Knicks possessions. Neemias Queta added 15 points and three blocks off the Boston bench.

Boston is 1-1 and New York is 0-2.

Up next

Knicks: host the Orlando Magic on Sunday, October 25.

Celtics: host the Chicago Bulls on Monday, October 26.