The New York Knicks secured a hard–fought 120–117 overtime victory against the NBA–leading Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Julius Randle led the Knicks with a stellar 37 points and nine rebounds while Jalen Brunson chipped in with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists that included a crucial block as time expired.
The Celtics, who had been on a nine–game winning streak, were led by All–Star starter Jayson Tatum who scored 35 points and had 14 rebounds. Jaylen Brown added 22 points with nine rebounds but had six key turnovers and missed two free throws in the final seconds, which ultimately cost Boston the game.
The game was neck and neck throughout, with both teams playing with grit and determination. It was only in the final seconds of overtime that the Knicks were able to edge ahead and put the game away. Randle came up clutch with two free throws with 21.2 seconds left and RJ Barrett added another two foul shots. Brunson then sealed the deal for New York with a crucial block of Malcolm Brogdon‘s would–be game–tying three–pointer.
CLUTCH BRUNSON BLOCK
KNICKS SURVIVE IN OT đź—˝ pic.twitter.com/DMJZrOhO7g
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 27, 2023
The win was a huge showing of resilience and strength from the New York Knicks who, despite the Celtics‘ star power, were able to come together and pull off the victory. Randle‘s 37 points and Brunson‘s clutch block will go down in Knicks lore as one of the team‘s most memorable performances of the season.
The loss was a bitter pill for Boston to swallow, with Brown reflecting “I‘m a better basketball player than I played today“. He added, “Those two missed free throws kind of embodied the whole game for me — didn‘t get it going, didn‘t give my team enough energy to win.”
The Knicks‘ win over the Celtics was a huge victory that showcased the team‘s potential against the NBA‘s top sides. Randle and Brunson led the way with career–defining performances, while the Knicks‘ grit and resilience were on display throughout the game.
