Knicks lose to Celtics as Jayson Tatum scores 36 points
Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, right, reaches for a pass against former Knick and current Celtics center Mitchell Robinson during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Boston. Credit: AP/Charles Krupa
BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 25 of his 36 points in the second half, including seven of his team’s final eight, to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Knicks, 107-103, on Friday night.
Paul George and Neemias Queta added 15 points apiece for the Celtics (1-1), who dropped the Knicks to 0-2.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Knicks in double figures. OG Anunoby added 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Deuce McBride finished with 20 points, Jalen Brunson added 19 and Josh Hart had 10 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. McBride shot 6-for-8 from three-point range.
In a game that featured 12 lead changes and four ties, Boston outscored the Knicks 33-24 in the third quarter to increase a one-point halftime lead to 10 entering the final period.
The Celtics went ahead 91-79 before Towns capped a 12-3 run with a putback dunk that cut the Knicks' deficit to 94-91.
Hart's three-pointer and Brunson's floater got the Knicks within 99-98, but Tatum responded with a 19-footer that made it 101-98 with 1:11 remaining.
Anunoby hit a pair of free throws with 45 seconds left to move the Knicks within 103-100, but Tatum drained a three-pointer from the wing.
Mitchell Robinson finished with four points, four rebounds and a block after struggling with early foul trouble throughout his first matchup against the Knicks team that he helped win last season’s title. Robinson was the only member of the Knicks' regular rotation who didn’t return.
During one sequence in the fourth quarter, Robinson swatted away a layup attempt by Towns and was the recipient of an alley-oop pass from Derrick White.
