The New York Knicks struggled to keep pace with the Boston Celtics on Sunday, falling 118-105 for their second straight loss and third defeat against Boston this season. After trailing by as many as 27 points in the third quarter, the Knicks fought back to trim the deficit to six early in the fourth on a driving basket by Mikal Bridges.
However, the Celtics quickly shut the door with a 10-0 run, capped by a Kristaps Porzingis dunk that reignited the crowd and halted New York’s momentum. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 24 points, while Jalen Brunson added 22.
Josh Hart provided a spark in his return from a knee injury, nearly notching a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, but his effort wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.
New York, coming off a 37-point blowout loss to Cleveland, has now allowed Boston to average 127 points in their three meetings this season, highlighting the gap between the teams. Let’s provide a grade for each Knicks player after this frustrating performance.
Karl-Anthony Towns: B+
Stats: 24 PTS, 18 REB (5 OREB, 13 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 4 PF, 9-20 FG, 3-4 3PT, 3-3 FT, -1, 41 MIN
Towns was a force on the glass, hauling in 18 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, while leading the Knicks in scoring with 24 points. His efficiency was solid, hitting 9-of-20 from the field and an impressive 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. However, his impact was somewhat diminished by his lack of playmaking, finishing without an assist, and his defensive presence was not enough to slow down Boston’s frontcourt. Despite his strong individual numbers, the Knicks were outmatched for most of the game, reflected in his near-even -1 plus/minus.
Josh Hart: B+
Stats: 20 PTS, 11 REB (2 OREB, 9 DREB), 9 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 8-14 FG, 0-0 3PT, 4-4 FT, -12, 40 MIN
Hart was a bright spot for the Knicks, nearly securing a triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists. He played with his usual high energy, attacking the glass and creating offense, but his impact was dampened by the Knicks’ defensive struggles. His efficiency (8-of-14 shooting) was solid, and he hit all four of his free throws. However, his -12 plus/minus showed that even his best efforts couldn’t offset the team’s defensive lapses.
Jalen Brunson: B
Stats: 22 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 0 PF, 9-19 FG, 4-9 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 38 MIN
Brunson led the Knicks’ backcourt with 22 points but had an uneven night, shooting 9-of-19 from the field and committing four turnovers. While he hit four three-pointers and remained aggressive in getting his shot off, he struggled to create for teammates, finishing with just four assists. The Celtics’ defense made it difficult for him to find easy looks, and his -9 plus/minus reflected New York’s inability to keep pace with Boston while he was on the floor.
Mikal Bridges: C+
Stats: 14 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 6-13 FG, 2-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, -23, 28 MIN
Bridges provided some key scoring moments, particularly in the second half when the Knicks attempted their comeback, but his overall impact was limited. He finished with 14 points on 6-of-13 shooting but contributed little elsewhere, failing to record a single rebound in 28 minutes. Defensively, he had some trouble matching up with Boston’s wings, and his -23 plus/minus was the worst on the team, reflecting the Celtics’ dominance while he was on the court.
Cameron Payne: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 3-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 10 MIN
Payne was one of the few Knicks reserves to shoot efficiently, finishing with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in just 10 minutes. He provided a brief scoring boost but didn’t contribute much elsewhere, failing to record an assist or make a major defensive impact. His -4 plus/minus was relatively neutral, suggesting that he didn’t hurt the team but also didn’t shift momentum in New York’s favor.
OG Anunoby: C
Stats: 10 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-7 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4-4 FT, -9, 35 MIN
Anunoby had a quiet night, finishing with just 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting, though he did knock down both of his three-point attempts and all four of his free throws. His defensive presence was less impactful than usual, as he struggled to contain Boston’s perimeter scorers. He also grabbed only two rebounds in 35 minutes, which is below his usual production.
Landry Shamet: C
Stats: 6 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 2-4 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +6, 5 MIN
Shamet made the most of his limited minutes, scoring six points on 2-of-4 shooting in just five minutes of action. He hit two of his three three-point attempts and finished with a +6 plus/minus, the highest on the team. While his playing time was too short to make a major impact, his efficiency was a rare positive for the Knicks in an otherwise frustrating night.
Miles McBride: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 27 MIN
McBride struggled mightily with his shot, going just 1-of-7 from the field and missing all four of his three-point attempts. While he contributed defensively with a steal and a block, his offensive inefficiency made it difficult for the Knicks to close the gap. He did manage two assists and two rebounds, but his lack of scoring punch kept New York from gaining any real ground during his minutes.
Precious Achiuwa: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 0-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -9, 15 MIN
Achiuwa had a forgettable game, failing to score in 15 minutes and contributing just one rebound and three assists. His energy was present, but he struggled to make a tangible impact on either end of the floor. His lack of offensive production and minimal defensive presence contributed to his -9 plus/minus, as he failed to provide the spark off the bench that the Knicks needed.
