New York can’t hang with Celtics, collapse in second half to lose 116-102 to Boston

To be fair, New York is without two key players in Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, but after a strong couple of frames to open the contest, the Knicks couldn’t hold it together.

The New York Knicks have been posited as the biggest threat to the Boston Celtics in the NBA’s Eastern Conference this season after a strong 2024 NBA trade deadline. But they didn’t really look like it at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, falling to Boston 116-102 after coming undone in the game’s second half.

To be fair, New York is without two key players in Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, but after a strong couple of frames to open the contest, the Knicks couldn’t hold it together against the Celtics’ superior firepower. All five starters and six Boston players scored in double figures, led by Jaylen Brown (30 points, 8 rebounds).

Kristaps Porzingis (22 points), Jayson Tatum (19 points, 6 boards, 6 assists), Derrick White (13 points, 6 assists), Jrue Holiday (12 points, 6 assists) and Al Horford (10 points, 7 rebounds) all had great games as well.

The Celtics next face the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on Tue., Feb. 27.

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