The Knicks squandered a 13-point lead in the last quarter by being recovered by the Celtics who forced overtime, but in turn posted a 10-2 run to overturn the 5-0 with which the hosts had started overtime. The two free throws missed by Jaylen Brown with 7.6 seconds left in the extra time were decisive, which would have given the Celtics the lead and Jalen Brunson’s block on Malcolm Brogdon on the last shot.
Julius Randle posted his fourth straight game above 30 as he finished with 37 points, 9 rebounds and 13/25 shooting on 5/13 from three points, leading the Knicks to victory along with Jalen Brunson’s 29 with 7 assists, RJ’s 19 Barrett and Immanuel Quickley’s 17 off the bench, earning the second hit in a row. Most impressive was Randle’s dunk into Jayson Tatum’s head in the third quarter, sealing a 14-5 run that propelled the Knicks into the second half.
Still without Marcus Smart injured, the Celtics suffer the third consecutive loss as it had happened only once in the rest of the season. Jayson Tatum is not having an exceptional shooting night (12/26 with 2/7 from three) but he is perfect from the line (9/9) to finish with 35 points and 14 rebounds, honoring Kobe Bryant with a purple band with 24 in yellow on the third anniversary of the death of his idol and mentor. Joining him are 22 points on 22 attempted shots by Jaylen Brown (1/8 from three) and 15 by Derrick White.