Knicks Late Rally Clipped by Tatum. Boston 107 NY 103

October 24, 2026 LouV 2026-27 0
KAT had 22 pts and 10 rebounds for NY.

The Knicks — down 10 with 4:50 left — rallied to pull within a point at 99-98 with 1:41 left — but Jayson Tatum made 3 big buckets in the final minute to thwart NY’s comeback in a 107-103 Celtics win on a Friday night in Boston.

It was a physical, back-and-forth contest that featured 12 lead changes and four ties. Tatum scored 25 of his game-high 36 points in the 2nd half—including 7 of Boston’s final 8 points—while adding 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals.

The game also featured a reunion between the Knicks and old friend and Champion Mitchell Robinson. But the reunion ended up being a non-factor as Robinson — starting at center — only had 4 points, 4 rebounds and a block in 22 minutes. He also picked up five fouls.

The Knicks were led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 22 points and 10 rebounds. OG Anunoby added 20 points, 10 boards, and 8 assists, Miles McBride scored 20 off the bench (6-of-8 from 3), and Jalen Brunson finished with 19. Josh Hart contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds, but Mikal Bridges was held scoreless on 0-for-8 shooting.

Paul George and Neemias Queta each chipped in 15 points for Boston.

“For the most part, most of his looks… I mean, he had three or four wide open threes. And we want them to make half of them if they’re open,” said coach Mike Brown about Mikal Bridges. “But he’s got to keep shooting them. And hopefully, they’ll eventually go in sooner than later, but he’s getting the looks that he needs to get. He’s just gotta knock them down now.”

The Knicks fall to 0-2; Boston evens their record at 1-1.

A Familiar Rivalry with Fresh Stakes

No two franchises have met more often in NBA history than the Knicks and Celtics, and Friday’s 503rd meeting carried extra weight. For the first time in 53 years, New York entered as the defending champions, while Boston—still building around Tatum after recent roster changes—sought to avoid an 0-2 start. Both teams had lost their season openers (the Knicks at home to Philadelphia on banner night, the Celtics on the road to Detroit), turning this early-season clash into something that felt closer to a playoff battle than a mid-October regular-season game. The energy at TD Garden reflected that intensity from the opening tip.

The physicality was evident early, with both teams playing through contact and forcing tough shots.

A Back-and-Forth First Half

The first half stayed tight throughout. Towns helped the Knicks open the scoring with an early three, and the teams traded leads and ties.

Josh Hart was a big part of the Knick offense — attacking the rim and hitting his jumper.

Boston took the lead at the half after Paul George’s buzzer-beating 3 put them up 50-49.

Boston’s 3rd-Quarter Push

Deuce McBride had his best game for the Knicks since the series before the Finals. He was everywhere, and hitting his 3.

The Celtics took momentum as the 3rd period continued — outscoring New York 33-24 to stretch a 1-point halftime lead to 10 entering the fourth.

Tatum found his rhythm, attacking the basket and scoring from multiple levels. Queta provided a spark off the bench with efficient scoring and rim protection, while the Celtics’ ball movement and defensive intensity forced the Knicks into difficult looks.

Knicks Down 12 in 4th — Rally to Within a Point

True to their championship pedigree, the Knicks refused to go away. After Boston stretched the lead as high as 12 points, New York answered with a strong run that cut the deficit to a single point with under two minutes remaining. Towns’ putback dunk, Hart’s three-pointer, and Brunson’s floater fueled the comeback.

The defending champions played with the urgency of a team that had just proven it could win close games when it mattered most. For a moment, it looked like another signature Knicks fourth-quarter rally was underway.

Tatum Takes Over in the Clutch

Jayson Tatum had other ideas. After a Josh Hart bucket pulled NY within 99-98 with 1:41 left, Tatum answered with a fadeaway 19-footer.

Following an offensive foul on KAT, Tatum hit another contested jumper to push the lead to five.

OG Anunoby hit 2 free throws to make it a one-possession game again, but Tatum then drained a dagger three from the wing with roughly 30 seconds left for the old ballgame.

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