Boston Bashes Knicks Behind Jayson Tatum Blizzard

The New York Knicks once again struggled to get the best of the Boston Celtics.

Feb 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) gestures after making a three point shot in the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics hardly needed luck to get the best of the New York Knicks again, as Jayson Tatum proved to be all they required.

Tatum and the Celtics silenced the Knicks' opportunity to make a major statement, thoroughly dominating a 131-104 decision at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night in primetime. With 40 points, Tatum became just the third Bostonian to post consecutive showings with at least 35 against the Knicks, joining the elite company of Larry Bird and Bill Sharman.

Negated in the effort was a 36-point outing from Jalen Brunson, which was perhaps the one thing that kept things at least somewhat respect before Tatum's oppressive onslaught—assisted by a 6-of-8 tally off the bench for Payton Pritchard—allowed Boston to create healthy distance and then some.

Feb 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) takes a three point shot in the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Saturday marked the first time that the Knicks faced the defending champions and their long-standing divisional rivals since opening night back in October. While New York (34-18) has undoubtedly grown since that 132-109 disaster, signs of progress were far too fleeting on Saturday night, which produced the Knicks' worst margin of defeat so far this season. The Knicks also remained winless against the top three teams in the NBA this season, as they're no fruitless in five tries against Boston, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City.

Tatum set the tone from the get-go by opening scoring with a showstopping dunk over Precious Achiuwa and the first of seven three-pointers, creating an eternal lead for Boston that was only aided and abetted by the Knicks missing each of their first 10 tries from the field.

Ten from Tatum helped the Celtics build a double-figure lead before the first period let out and Brunson had more than half of the Knicks' points before Cameron Payne hit a successful buzzer-beater to shrink the deficit to 30-19. The status quo lingered in the second, as Pritchard scored 14 points on 5-of-7 from deep while Brunson countered with a perfect 7-of-7 effort from the foul line.

Metropolitan momentum surged in the third: trailing by 15 almost immediately in the second half, the Knicks embarked on an 18-6 run that whittled the Boston advantage all the way down to three. The Garden reached deafening levels when Mikal Bridges hit a three off a feed from Brunson that made it 70-67 and hinted at being the spark that helped New York burn down its cursed recent history against Beantown.

But Tatum once again had tricks up his sleeve: a crowd-quieting dunk on the other end set the tone for a dreary climax, one that began with a 26-9 Boston run over the last 6:31 of the period. Tatum and Derrick White were responsible for every point of that output and the former would up scoring 19 in the fateful dozen. The run was further sparked by a controversial foul call against Miles McBride, one where he was said to have gotten White on a three-point try. New York did not challenge, allowing the push to move forward.

Feb 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) looks to drive past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Tatum and White responsible for all but two of Boston's 35 period points and for more or less breaking the Knicks' will: when it was clear there was no answer for Tatum, Pritchard, White, or even emergency starter Luke Kornet (14 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks after stepping in for an ill Kristaps Porzingis), the deflated Knicks saw their deficit inflate by as much as 35 before both teams emptied their benches.

Boston (37-16) moved two-and-a-half games ahead of the Knicks for second place on the Eastern Conference playoff bracket and won for the sixth time in the past seven meetings. The lone win was earned last April with OG Anunoby partaking in a game where Boston played its starters despite having the top seed secured. Anunoby did not play on Saturday night, missing his third consecutive game with a foot sprain.

New York and Boston will battle again in two weeks as the Knicks are destined for TD Garden on Feb. 23. In the meantime, the Knicks return to action on Tuesday night when they hit the road to face the Indiana Pacers (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/TNT).

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