Knicks Lay Hammer (and Alvarado) on Celtics. NY 111 Boston 89

February 9, 2026 LouV 2025-26 0
Jose Alvarado was everything the Knicks were expecting in his first game as a Knick -- disruptive on defense, and an up-tempo point guard on offense. Photo courtesy NY Knicks.

The Knicks bounced back off their horrid loss to the Detroit Pistons by taking their hammer out and beating down the Celtics in Boston on a Sunday afternoon — Super Bowl Sunday.

Karl-Anthony Towns — who missed the Detroit game after getting 6 stiches to his forehead the game before — was back and created a tag-team attack with Jalen Brunson — KAT attacking inside while Brunson attacked from all over.

That allowed Brunson to rebound from his 4-20 shooting performance vs Detroit to score 31 pts on 12-21 shooting (4-8 from 3) and lead NY all night, while KAT had the best 11-pt (on 3-9 shooting), 10-rebound performance you’ll ever see — as he attacked the rim seemingly all night opening up the offense for other Knicks.

Jose Alvarado played his first game as a Knick and was everything NY hoped he would be — a disrupter who kept coming from behind and slapping the ball away from Celtic players — causing Boston turnovers. Alvarado also scored 12 pts off the bench in 25 minutes.

NY led 35-24 after 1 quarter and led by 17 pts in the 2nd quarter before Boston pushed back to narrow the lead to 4 pts midway through the 3rd. But NY took the hammer out again to push back out to a 17-pt lead by the end of the 3rd.

Boston had one last hurrah to narrow their deficit to 12 points early in the 4th, but an Alvarado steal and bucket, then a KAT steal leading to 3 free throws by Mikal Bridges (fouled while taking a trey) — sealed the dominant win for NY.

Mohamed Diawara was also exceptional for NY and was named Defensive Player of the Game. Josh Hart stuck his jumper all night for 19 pts on 7-14 shooting. Bridges also played well, scoring 14 pts on 5-10 shooting. Mitchell Robinson beasted at backup center — but was sent to the free throw line multiple times by Boston in a Hack-a-Mitch strategy. Mitch missed his first 4 free throws but then made 3-4 in the 2nd half.

“It was exciting,” said Jose Alvarado about being traded to NY before the game. “Just being here; just being in the city I was raised at is a dope feeling. Putting the Knicks jersey on is pretty surreal for me. Just trying to stay with the moment.”

NY improves to 34-19, and ties Boston for 2nd in the East, who fall to 34-19. Both are 5 games back of Detroit.

1. Knicks Command Game Early — Take 17-Pt Lead in 2nd

NY came out with a tough defense and junkyard dog mentality — hitting the floor for 50-50 balls and disrupting the Celtics. Mohamed Diawara was everywhere — using his 6’8 length and hounding defense to disrupt plays. Landry Shamet, Hart, Bridges, KAT, Brunson — all the Knicks — were hustling after it all game.

The Knicks jumped out to a 33-22 lead late in the 1st quarter on consecutive 3’s by Brunson and Diawara, a Brunson drive off an Alvarez assist, a Brunson step-back, and a Brunson 3.

2. Alvarado Creates Havoc

And then Jose Alvarado came in with the 2nd team late in the 1st and caused more disruption. He is known for sneaking up behind players and slapping the ball away, and he did it several times in this game — but also ran the point and hit his 3 and runners.

“Jose Alvarado changes the game the minute he steps on the floor by getting into and after you defensively, changes the tempo, can create his own and for others, 50/50 balls become 20/80 balls,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Also, fearless, tough, knows his role and takes zero play for granted. Skills you can’t teach.”

3. Mitch Purposely Fouled — Misses First 4 — But Celts Go Over Limit

Mitchell Robinson was Beasting inside for the Knicks in the 2nd quarter, helping them build their 17-pt lead — when Boston went to the hack-a-Mitch tactic to put him on the line.

Mitch went 0-4 in two trips to the line when coach Mike Brown pulled him and put KAT back in.

But NY got some of that back — the Knicks were up by 13 late in the 2nd quarter when Boston went on a mini 10-3 run — on buckets by Baylor Scheierman, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown to pull within 7 at 58-51.

Brunson drove towards the basket with 32 seconds left and was fouled — not taking a shot — but since the Celtics were over the limit for fouling Mitch — Brunson got and made 2 free throws to put NY back up by 9.

3. Boston Pulls within 4 Pts in 3rd

Still a bucket by Derrick White pulled Boston to within 60-53 at the half, and they continued that push early in the 3rd quarter on a scoring spree by Jaylen Brown.

Boston was within 65-61 with 7:41 left in the period when KAT banged inside for a foul and free throws, and then fed Shamet for a 3 next time down and NY was back up by 9 at 70-61.

Jaylen Brown again scored consecutive buckets to pull Boston within 5 — but Josh Hart stuck a deuce and a 3 and NY was back up by 10 at 75-65

4. Mitch Purposely Fouled — Hits 3-4; NY Goes Back Up 17

So Boston went back to Hack-a-Mitch — and this time it backfired — Robinson hitting 2 free throws to put NY up 12.

Brunson then hit a runner, and Boston fouled Mitch again — and Robinson went 1-2 from the line to put NY up 15.

Robinson then caused Nikola Vucevic to miss a shot inside, and Alvarado scored on a fast break the other end and NY was up 17 — 85-68 with a minute left in the 3rd.

Boston came down for a final shot in the 3rd — but Alvarado blocked Jaylen Brown’s shot inside.

6. Alvarado Creates Havoc

Boston made one last run in the 4th — a bucket by Payton Pritchard and a 3 by Baylor Scheierman pulling them to 12 pts down.

But Jose Alvarado again — came up from behind and tipped the ball away from Brown — creating a fast break in the other direction — Shamet to Alvarado for a layup.

Next time down Mikal Bridges was fouled taking a 3 — and hit all free throws for ballgame.

Brunson continued to get buckets, and the benches were emptied with 4 minutes left and the Knicks up big.

Tyler Kolek — whose playing time is erased with the addition of Alvarado — came in for the last 4 minutes and hit two 3’s.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401810612

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