Knicks
Tatum's 36 and 38 points in the paint carry Celtics past Knicks, 107-103
The Celtics beat the Knicks 107-103 at TD Garden. Boston won the third quarter 33-24 and held on after New York outscored them 30-24 in the fourth. Boston moves to 1-1, while New York falls to 0-2 and sits 12th in the East.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 38 min ago01The story of the nightThe third quarter decided itThe first half was even.
The first half was even. Boston led 26-27 after a Knicks first quarter, then edged ahead to 50-49 at the break. The game turned in the third quarter. The Celtics scored 33 while holding New York to 24, and they led 83-73 going into the fourth. That swing produced their biggest lead of the night, 12 points. The Knicks never led by more than 5. New York answered with 30 points in the fourth quarter and kept pushing, but Boston had built just enough room. The teams traded the lead 12 times, yet the Celtics controlled the late minutes and closed it out at 107-103.
02Tatum leads the wayJayson Tatum carried Boston with 36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.
Jayson Tatum carried Boston with 36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. He shot 14 of 26 from the field and 5 of 5 at the line. Paul George added 15 points with 3 threes on 7 attempts. Neemias Queta gave the Celtics a lift off the bench with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Derrick White scored 12 and handed out 6 assists. For New York, Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 10 rebounds on 9 of 13 shooting. OG Anunoby finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Miles McBride scored 20 off the bench and hit 6 of 8 from three. Jalen Brunson had 19 on 7 of 17 shooting.
03Where Boston won itThe Celtics won inside and took care of the ball.
The Celtics won inside and took care of the ball. They outscored New York 38-30 in the paint. They committed 10 turnovers to the Knicks' 16, and turned those giveaways into 19 points, against 12 for New York. Boston also won the bench battle 35-32. The Knicks did win the glass 57-44 and made 16 of 40 from three, compared with 15 of 39 for Boston. Both teams shot near 45 percent from the field, with Boston at 46.0 percent. New York scored 12 fast break points to Boston's 11. Mikal Bridges went 0 of 8 from the field and 0 of 5 from three, and was minus 12 in 21.9 minutes.
04What it meansBoston improves to 1-1 and sits 7th in the East, with a win in its last game.
Boston improves to 1-1 and sits 7th in the East, with a win in its last game. The Celtics got a big night from their star and enough depth to hold off a late push. Tatum's efficiency, Queta's work off the bench and a low turnover count were the keys. New York drops to 0-2 and is 12th in the East, having lost both games so far. The Knicks found offense from McBride, Towns and Anunoby, but the turnovers and the paint deficit cost them. Bridges' empty night from the field left Brunson without enough help.
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