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Brunson scores 39 points, Knicks beat Celtics to keep up push for No. 2 seed in Eastern Conference
BOSTON (AP) Jalen Brunson scored 39 points in three quarters and the New York Knicks kept up their quest to finish with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Boston Celtics 118-109 on Thursday night.
One day after clinching a playoff spot, the Knicks pulled within a game of the Milwaukee Bucks for second, with each team having two games remaining. New York would have to win both and have the Bucks lose their games at Oklahoma City and Orlando, because Milwaukee has the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Brunson shot 15 of 23 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3-point range. Backcourt mate Donte DiVincenzo had 17 points and Josh Hart finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds. New York also received a lift off the bench from its primary acquisition at the trade deadline, as Bojan Bogdanovic had 14 points.
Jayson Tatum scored 18 points for Boston. Payton Pritchard had 16 points off the bench and Jaylen Brown and Sam Hauser each had 15.
Despite having already clinched home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, the Celtics took the court with their top eight players. With the Knicks up 29, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla opened the fourth quarter with a unit entirely of reserves. Brunson’s night was also done with one quarter to spare as New York denied Boston’s bid of a season sweep of its Atlantic Division rival.
The Celtics shot 11 of 19 overall and 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, yet trailed 32-29 after one quarter. Hart set the tone for a productive opening quarter for the Knicks, who at one point were shooting 69% from the field.
New York was ahead 47-45 in the second quarter before ripping off 17 straight points as part of a half-closing 22-3 run over the final 6 1/2 minutes that made it 69-48 at the break.
Brunson helped the Knicks extend their lead to as high as 31 points as the All-Star guard turned it up several notches in the third quarter, piling up 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
UP NEXT
Knicks: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
Celtics: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Isaiah Hartenstein vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Derrick White gains possession) | ||
| 11:39 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point alley-oop layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:15 |  | OG Anunoby turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals) | ||
| 11:10 | | Derrick White misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 11:10 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | +3 | Donte DiVincenzo makes three point jump shot (Isaiah Hartenstein assists) | 3-2 |
| 10:43 | | +3 | Jaylen Brown makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists) | 3-5 |
| 10:18 | | Josh Hart misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 10:17 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | Derrick White shooting foul (Isaiah Hartenstein draws the foul) | ||
| 10:16 | | Isaiah Hartenstein misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:16 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 10:16 | | +1 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 4-5 |
| 10:02 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:00 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 9:48 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving reverse layup (Jalen Brunson assists) | 6-5 |
| 9:32 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 6-8 |
| 9:13 | | Jrue Holiday blocks Donte DiVincenzo's two point driving layup | ||
| 9:12 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 9:11 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point putback dunk | 8-8 |
| 9:11 | | Jaylen Brown shooting foul (Isaiah Hartenstein draws the foul) | ||
| 9:11 | | Isaiah Hartenstein misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 9:11 | | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | ||
| 8:57 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 8-10 |
| 8:38 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 10-10 |
| 8:15 | | Jrue Holiday turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:01 | | +2 | Isaiah Hartenstein makes two point floating jump shot (Donte DiVincenzo assists) | 12-10 |
| 7:42 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point driving finger roll layup | 12-12 |
| 7:21 | | OG Anunoby misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:20 | | OG Anunoby offensive rebound | ||
| 7:18 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point jump shot (OG Anunoby assists) | 14-12 |
| 7:05 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 14-14 |
| 7:05 | | Josh Hart shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 7:05 | | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 7:05 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:50 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:35 | | Jayson Tatum misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:32 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 6:28 | | Josh Hart turnover (lost ball) (Derrick White steals) | ||
| 6:25 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:23 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 6:20 | | +2 | OG Anunoby makes two point running dunk (Josh Hart assists) | 16-14 |
| 6:19 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:04 | | Jaylen Brown misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:01 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 18-14 |
| 5:34 | | Derrick White turnover (bad pass) (OG Anunoby steals) | ||
| 5:32 | | +2 | OG Anunoby makes two point running dunk | 20-14 |
| 5:21 | | Kristaps Porzingis turnover (lost ball) (Isaiah Hartenstein steals) | ||
| 5:14 | | Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:12 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 4:59 | | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 20-16 |
| 4:38 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:37 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 4:22 | | Jaylen Brown offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 4:22 | | Jaylen Brown turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:03 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point cutting finger roll layup (Jalen Brunson assists) | 22-16 |
| 3:52 | | Derrick White misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:51 | | OG Anunoby defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 24-16 |
| 3:29 | | +3 | Sam Hauser makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 24-19 |
| 3:12 | | Jalen Brunson misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 3:11 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 3:10 | | Jaylen Brown blocks Mitchell Robinson's two point putback layup | ||
| 3:09 | | Sam Hauser defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point running jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 24-22 |
| 2:54 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:42 | | Al Horford blocks Josh Hart's two point driving layup | ||
| 2:41 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 2:33 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving dunk (Jalen Brunson assists) | 26-22 |
| 2:20 | | Mitchell Robinson shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 2:20 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-23 |
| 2:20 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-24 |
| 2:05 | | Miles McBride misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 2:03 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 1:49 | | Sam Hauser misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:47 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 1:41 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point running layup (Josh Hart assists) | 28-24 |
| 1:27 | | Al Horford turnover (bad pass) (Bojan Bogdanovic steals) | ||
| 1:06 | | Josh Hart misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 1:04 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 1:01 | | Miles McBride misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:58 | | Josh Hart offensive rebound | ||
| 0:58 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point putback layup | 30-24 |
| 0:39 | | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point pullup jump shot | 30-27 |
| 0:34 | | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point driving floating jump shot (Miles McBride assists) | 32-27 |
| 0:15 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:13 | | Payton Pritchard offensive rebound | ||
| 0:11 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point putback layup | 32-29 |
| 0:03 | | Jrue Holiday personal foul (Take) (Miles McBride draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | Jayson Tatum blocks Jalen Brunson's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:40 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:38 | | Payton Pritchard defensive rebound | ||
| 11:23 | | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 32-32 |
| 11:00 | | +3 | Josh Hart makes three point jump shot (Miles McBride assists) | 35-32 |
| 10:47 | | +2 | Payton Pritchard makes two point driving layup | 35-34 |
| 10:38 | | +3 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes three point jump shot (Josh Hart assists) | 38-34 |
| 10:28 | | Miles McBride shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 10:28 | | Jayson Tatum misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 10:28 | | Celtics offensive rebound | ||
| 10:28 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 38-35 |
| 10:14 | | Donte DiVincenzo misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:11 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 9:58 | | Miles McBride misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 9:56 | | Mitchell Robinson offensive rebound | ||
| 9:56 | | +2 | Mitchell Robinson makes two point tip layup | 40-35 |
| 9:42 | | +2 | Jrue Holiday makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 40-37 |
| 9:23 | | +2 | Donte DiVincenzo makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 42-37 |
| 9:14 | | Payton Pritchard misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:13 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 9:06 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point running layup | 44-37 |
| 8:50 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 44-39 |
| 8:35 | | Miles McBride turnover (bad pass) (Al Horford steals) | ||
| 8:30 | | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point running dunk (Al Horford assists) | 44-41 |
| 8:19 | | Knicks 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:10 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:08 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 8:01 | | Donte DiVincenzo shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | ||
| 8:01 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-42 |
| 8:01 | | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-43 |
| 7:52 | | +2 | Jalen Brunson makes two point pullup jump shot | 46-43 |
| 7:37 | | Jayson Tatum turnover (bad pass) (Mitchell Robinson steals) | ||
| 7:17 | | Kristaps Porzingis shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 7:17 | | Jalen Brunson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 7:17 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 7:17 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-43 |
| 7:03 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:01 | | Kristaps Porzingis offensive rebound | ||
| 7:01 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:59 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 6:54 | | Jaylen Brown blocks Josh Hart's two point running layup | ||
| 6:51 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 6:51 | | Bojan Bogdanovic misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:50 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:38 | | +2 | Derrick White makes two point driving layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 47-45 |
| 6:31 | | OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:30 | | Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | Josh Hart misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:15 | | Derrick White defensive rebound | ||
| 6:04 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:02 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | Isaiah Hartenstein misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Bojan Bogdanovic offensive rebound | ||
| 5:52 | | +3 | OG Anunoby makes three point jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists) | 50-45 |
| 5:30 | | Jaylen Brown misses two point turnaround fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 5:29 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point running reverse layup (Josh Hart assists) | 52-45 |
| 5:21 | | Celtics 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:06 | | Jayson Tatum misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:05 | | Jalen Brunson defensive rebound | ||
| 4:45 | | Precious Achiuwa misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:43 | | Al Horford defensive rebound | ||
| 4:36 | | Jalen Brunson personal foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | ||
| 4:29 | | Jrue Holiday misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Bojan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | ||
| 4:07 | | +2 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes two point driving finger roll layup | 54-45 |
| 3:51 | | Jayson Tatum offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:51 | | Jayson Tatum turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 3:36 | | Al Horford blocks Precious Achiuwa's two point driving layup | ||
| 3:35 | | Knicks offensive rebound | ||
| 3:31 | | +3 | Bojan Bogdanovic makes three point jump shot | 57-45 |
| 3:15 | | Isaiah Hartenstein blocks Jrue Holiday's two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 3:14 | | Bojan Bogdanovic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 60-45 |
| 3:00 | | Jrue Holiday shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul) | ||
| 3:00 | | +1 | Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 61-45 |
| 2:49 | | OG Anunoby personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | ||
| 2:43 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:40 | | Jrue Holiday offensive rebound | ||
| 2:37 | | Derrick White misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:34 | | Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound | ||
| 2:18 | | +3 | Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot | 64-45 |
| 2:04 | | Precious Achiuwa blocks Jaylen Brown's three point jump shot | ||
| 2:02 | | Isaiah Hartenstein defensive rebound | ||
| 1:50 | | Precious Achiuwa misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:49 | |