The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 120-117 in overtime. The Knicks got clutch performances from their big three to win the game.
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The New York Knicks outlasted the Boston Celtics to win in overtime, 120 to 117. The Celtics started the game on fire, but Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle were locked in enough to keep the game within reach. New York’s second unit became a story of the night, helping the Knicks comeback in the second quarter and building on a fourth-quarter lead.
But nothing comes easy with this team. The Knicks blew a 13-point lead in the fourth, as Boston forced overtime. The Celtics also took an early lead in OT, but the Knicks fought back. RJ Barrett knocked down a clutch three to give New York their first lead of the extra period, and the Knicks held on from there.
This is easily my favorite win of the season, beating the team with the best record in the league on their home court. Let’s take a look at the Knicks made a statement with this victory.
All-star performances lead the way for the Knicks’ starters
Jalen Brunson: 29 PTS (12/25 FG, 2/6 3PT, 3/4 FT), 7 AST, 4 REB, 2 BLK, 1 TO in 40 mins
Jalen Brunson started the game hot and never cooled off. Brunson is always elusive, but he seemed to get anywhere he wanted despite facing a formidable defender in Derrick White. The Knicks’ best point guard in decades scored at all three levels, from three-point to the paint. I especially like that he entered the fourth quarter with the Celtics gaining momentum and immediately scoring a tough basket to quell the run.
Brunson’s only issues came when Celtics’ defenders crowded him from half-court. By forcing him to get rid of the ball before plays started, the Celtics slowed down everything else New York wanted to do. The second-generation Knick makes life easier for everyone, especially Julius Randle. He draws attention, shuffles defenders, and picks out advantages to attack for himself and others.
Brunson also picked up the game-closing block on a closeout. An offensive rebound made its way to Malcolm Brogdon, and Brunson slid over in time to deny the chance at tying. That embodies the star guard’s entire night; he was always in the right place at the right time. Brunson gets a 4.5 out of 5 for his impact.
Quentin Grimes: 5 PTS (2/7 FG, 1/6 3PT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK in 38 mins
Quentin Grimes’ stat line is unimpressive. He seemed tight from three, missing wide-open shots he usually knocks down like layups. Grimes’ forays past defenders also felt defanged by Boston’s crashing defense and lengthy rim protectors. His one field goal inside the arc was an emphatic dunk in transition, which means he only scored once in the half-court offense.
I can forgive the offensive struggles because Grimes took on a significant challenge on defense. He spent most of the night guarding Jayson Tatum, a clear MVP candidate. Tatum scored plenty, but the Knicks’ sophomore made the Celtic’s best scorer work for nearly every basket. Grimes’ overtime defense played a critical role in New York’s victory. New York went down five early, and Tatum smelled blood, but Grimes forced him into tough shots and misses.
That’s the beauty of Grimes’ game. On his worst days, he’s still providing elite defense for a team with plenty of scoring to cover for him. Grimes is always a connector for the offense and poor shooting nights like this are rare. His missed shots in the fourth and overtime limit his impact score to a 3 out of 5, but Grimes’ defense was undeniably crucial to this win.
RJ Barrett: 19 PTS (6/18 FG, 2/5 3PT, 5/6 FT), 1 AST, 4 REB, 1 STL, 1 TO in 40 mins
RJ Barrett struggled for 90 percent of this game. The same defensive length and effort that kept Grimes out of the paint hampered Barrett’s typical trips inside the paint. Barrett attacked plenty, but his attempts at the rim were crowded, forced, or blocked too often. He complained to the refs as much as he made shots inside.
But then crunch time hit, and Maple Mamba gave a tribute to Kobe Bryant’s clutch gene. Barrett drew a foul and hit two crucial free throws late in regulation. He followed that up with a go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute of overtime. The Knicks’ young rising prospect turned a poor night into one of his most clutch moments as a pro.
Barrett also took on challenging defensive assignments, between covering Jalen Brown and switching to Tatum occasionally. He didn’t stand out the way Grimes or IQ typically do, but RJ was the driving force behind a few essential stops. Add in those clutch moments, and Barrett salvages a tough night for a 3 out of 5 on impact.
Julius Randle: 37 PTS (13/25 FG, 5/13 3PT, 6/7 FT), 2 AST, 9 REB, 2 TO in 37 mins
Julius Randle showed up playing like he had something to prove. He matched Jayson Tatum shot-for-shot and play-for-play throughout the action. Randle started the game with a three-point flurry, then hit a couple more in crucial moments of the second half. But between the shooting barrages, Randle did work inside that included two posterizing dunks on defenders.
Randle’s execution late in the fourth quarter slipped somewhat. He still managed enough baskets to keep New York ahead until Boston forced overtime. But Randle got into his actions too late in the shot clock, allowing the Celtics’s double-teaming to force him into dicey decisions. I’ll attribute the mistakes to fatigue and poor team management of the shot clock.
Randle has had a spectacular season, but this might be his greatest performance. He matched an MVP talent, beating the best team in the league on their home floor. New York’s top scorer handled the pressure well and poured in jumpers and highlights. Randle’s unforgettable performance earns a 5 out of 5 for sheer dominance on offense.
Jericho Sims: 2 FG (1/1), 14 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 36 mins
Don’t let the lonely field and 2 points fool you. Jericho Sims played 36 minutes because he was an important factor in the victory. Sims played a massive role in the paint, grabbing 5 more rebounds than the next closest Knick. That included an offensive board where he outleaped Robert Williams to get the rebound and putback.
Defensively, Sims is developing chemistry with the other starters. He’s far from perfect, overzealous at times, and biting at fakes. But Sims’ positioning in drop coverage has improved by leaps in just a few games, and he challenged nearly everything around the paint. He had a big block late in the matchup.
The only gripe I had with Sims was a few offensive rebounds he gave up late in quarters. One board that I had an issue with in particular was when Jayston Tatum snatched the rebound out of Sims’ hands for a layup. He was fantastic on the glass but could be even better. That’s nitpicking at best, and Sims picks up a 2.5 out of 5 for the night.
New York’s second unit gains momentum
Miles McBride: 2 PTS (0/3 FG, 0/3 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 AST, 2 REB, 3 STL, 2 TO in 13 mins
Miles McBride missed all of his field goal attempts, but I wasn’t mad at his performance. He took a more aggressive approach, driving baseline for the second-straight game and picking up a pair of assists by probing the defense on drives. Deuce looked for his offense without forcing things.
More importantly, McBride’s defense was outstanding. He was a headache for ball handlers, picking up 3 steals in less than 15 minutes of action. In addition, the sophomore defender was in every shooter’s grill and poked at every slasher’s drive on hedges. It’s enough to warrant a 2 out of 5 despite playing just 13 minutes.
Immanuel Quickley: 17 PTS (7/12 FG, 2/3 3PT, 1/2 FT), 1 AST, 5 REB, 1 STL in 28 mins
Immanuel Quickley put up 15 points in the second quarter to help the Knicks pick up momentum. That effort helped New York settle in as a team after Brunson and Randle carried them early. Again, IQ showed poise against an elite opponent and continued his role as the second unit’s scoring punch.
I don’t want to say that Quickley cooled off in the second half. It would be more accurate to say that he fell to the wayside as other players attacked. He made one more basket in the fourth quarter but let RJ Barrett lead most attacks. When IQ did run the offense, the Celtics forced him to pass, which he did without much trouble.
IQ’s defense warrants praise, as usual. He stuck to ball handlers and grabbed 5 rebounds to boost New York. Quick felt like the player who gave New York whatever it needed while the stars focused on scoring. He earns a 4 out of 5 for efficient contributions as the sixth man.
Obi Toppin: 5 PTS (2/4 FG, 1/2 3PT), 2 REB in 16 mins
Obi Toppin has a way of turning a field goal or two into massive energy. Even when he’s not dunking, Toppin’s field goals are energizing. At this moment, he pump-faked a defender, then dribbled into a reset for three. It was such a smooth play at a crucial moment that I nearly forgot that his night was mostly quiet.
Toppin didn’t do a whole lot on the box score. But he played a solid night of defense and did enough to buy Randle some extra rest in the second quarter. The former top-ten pick looks like his legs are under him again. He needs to produce more to beat a 1.5 out of 5 performance score, but I think the production is on its way.
Isaiah Hartenstein: 4 PTS (1/1 FG, 2/2 FT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 1 BLK, 1 TO in 17 mins
Isaiah Hartenstein scared me with two fouls in what felt like an instant. He came into the first quarter, and broadcasters were joking about his foul trouble in “10 seconds” of action. But Hart stayed on the floor and made an impression with a pair of insane outlet passes. The second of those passes was a full-court lead pass that found RJ Barrett ahead of the defense.
Hart played quality defense as well. His drop coverage didn’t fall too far back to challenge shooters, and he stepped up, showing that he could trust his help defenders. In one play in particular, Hart chased a ball-handler who tried to kick to Robert Williams, but Jalen Brunson slid over to deflect the pass. I like those moments of defensive trust and chemistry.
Hart earns a 2.5 out of 5 for filling the sheet in just 17 minutes of impact play.
The coach gets his statement win
Tom Thibodeau finally has a pair of statement wins to point to. The Knicks’ two-game winning streak over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Celtics is as sweet as any run they’ve made except for that eight-game hype train from earlier. Thibs had his player completely locked on, with the leaders stepping up early and everyone else forming behind them.
In-game adjustments were interesting. Thibodeau let the second unit handle more of the second quarter, riding their success and resting starters. He got five minutes out of that same unit in the fourth, which proved helpful when overtime fatigue set upon every player. I also thought I spotted some new intentional switching on defense, though it was still rare.
I’m still shaky about Thibodeau’s late-game offense. The team drags to a clock-killing isolation offense that never seems to work. But it’s hard to argue when the overall direction of this squad looks so positive. Thibodeau nets a 3.5 out of 5 for guiding the team to its biggest win yet.
Closing Thoughts
I mentioned in the last recap that this was an opportunity. Unfortunately, the strength of schedule has flipped, and New York won’t have an easy road the rest of the way. But that means they’ll have more chances to prove they can hang with the teams they need to be able to beat in the playoffs. They just went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league so far, and they won.
I’m frustrated that the East is so stacked; the Knicks are still in the thick of a fight to avoid the play-in game. They’ve been fantastic, but every game feels crucial because of the parity. But pressure makes diamonds, and New York is rounding into shape. We were complaining about blowing games at the line last month, but the Knicks made free throws while the Celtics missed crucial ones.
It won’t get easier. The Brooklyn Nets are next for a crosstown rival game. The Nets will miss Kevin Durant, but they always play the Knicks tough. It’s another chance to turn this winning streak into something special, but it could be a trap game in some ways. The Knicks can’t afford a hangover or overtime fatigue.
We’ll discuss all of the action after Brooklyn and, hopefully, celebrate another big win. I’ll see you then, Knicks fam.
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out Alex’s conversation about the Boston Celtics with Keith Smith, writer at Spotrac, contributor to The Celtics Blog, and Host of Front Office Show.
