NEW YORK -- — Jayson Tatum scored 40 points and the Boston Celtics easily handled the New York Knicks for the second time this season, winning 131-104 on Saturday night.

Payton Pritchard added 25 points off the bench for the Celtics, who rebounded from their loss to Dallas on Thursday in an NBA Finals rematch to win for the fifth time in six games and move 2 1/2 games ahead of the Knicks for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Derrick White had 17 and combined with Tatum for all the points in a 19-3 spurt in the third quarter that broke open the only time all night it felt like a game. The Knicks, who trailed by double digits most of the night, had cut an 18-point deficit to 70-67, but by the time the run was over Boston led 89-70.

Jalen Brunson scored 36 points for the Knicks, who lost for the second time in nine games — both at home the last two Saturday nights on national TV. Josh Hart had 17.

Takeaways

Celtics: With Jrue Holiday already out with a shoulder injury and Kristaps Porzingis scratched shortly before the game with an illness, the Celtics leaned heavily on Tatum, Pritchard and White, who combined for 17 of their 19 3-pointers.

Knicks: The Knicks hoped their offseason moves would help them close the gap with the Celtics. But the Celtics blew them away in a 132-109 romp on opening night after raising their championship banner and New York's largest lead against Boston this season is one point.

Key moment

The Knicks missed their first 10 shots while the Celtics raced to a 12-2 lead.

Key stat

Tatum had 19 points and White 14 in the third quarter. The Knicks had 28.

Up next

The Celtics visit Miami on Monday night, and the Knicks are at Indiana on Tuesday night.

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Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Luke Kornet vs. Karl-Anthony Towns (Al Horford gains possession)	0	0
11:40	Jaylen Brown misses 13-foot two point shot	0	0
11:38	Josh Hart defensive rebound	0	0
11:26	Jaylen Brown blocks Josh Hart 's 3-foot driving layup	0	0
11:24	Luke Kornet defensive rebound	0	0
11:12	Jayson Tatum makes driving dunk	0	2
10:57	Mikal Bridges misses 8-foot step back jumpshot	0	2
10:55	Derrick White defensive rebound	0	2
10:48	Derrick White misses 25-foot three point jumper	0	2
10:46	Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound	0	2
10:32	Precious Achiuwa misses 22-foot three point jumper	0	2
10:29	Al Horford defensive rebound	0	2
10:21	Jayson Tatum makes 26-foot three pointer	0	5
10:01	Luke Kornet blocks Mikal Bridges 's 2-foot layup	0	5
9:59	Luke Kornet defensive rebound	0	5
9:55	Karl-Anthony Towns blocks Jaylen Brown 's 2-foot two point shot	0	5
9:54	Knicks defensive team rebound	0	5
9:36	Jayson Tatum shooting foul	0	5
9:36	Jalen Brunson makes free throw 1 of 2	1	5
9:36	Jalen Brunson makes free throw 2 of 2	2	5
9:21	Jayson Tatum misses 6-foot step back jumpshot	2	5
9:19	Josh Hart defensive rebound	2	5
9:08	Luke Kornet personal foul	2	5
9:04	Mikal Bridges misses 8-foot pullup jump shot	2	5
9:02	Precious Achiuwa offensive rebound	2	5
8:53	Josh Hart misses 25-foot three point jumper	2	5
8:50	Luke Kornet defensive rebound	2	5
8:43	Jayson Tatum misses 28-foot three point pullup jump shot	2	5
8:42	Luke Kornet offensive rebound	2	5
8:35	Jaylen Brown makes 16-foot pullup jump shot	2	7
8:19	Precious Achiuwa misses 6-foot two point shot	2	7
8:17	Al Horford defensive rebound	2	7
8:08	Al Horford makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Brown assists)	2	10
7:55	Al Horford blocks Josh Hart 's 3-foot layup	2	10
7:54	Knicks offensive team rebound	2	10
7:41	Mikal Bridges misses 52-foot three point pullup jump shot	2	10
7:37	Knicks offensive team rebound	2	10
7:34	Luke Kornet blocks Josh Hart 's 2-foot layup	2	10
7:31	Jayson Tatum defensive rebound	2	10
7:15	Jaylen Brown makes 10-foot two point shot	2	12
7:03	Knicks Full timeout	2	12
6:56	Mikal Bridges makes 10-foot pullup jump shot (Precious Achiuwa assists)	4	12
6:43	Jayson Tatum makes 1-foot two point shot	4	14
6:35	Josh Hart bad pass (Jaylen Brown steals)	4	14
6:27	Luke Kornet makes 2-foot dunk (Derrick White assists)	4	16
6:07	Karl-Anthony Towns makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josh Hart assists)	7	16
5:46	Derrick White makes 25-foot three pointer	7	19
5:31	Luke Kornet shooting foul	7	19
5:31	Jalen Brunson makes free throw 1 of 2	8	19
5:31	Neemias Queta enters the game for Luke Kornet	8	19
5:31	Miles McBride enters the game for Precious Achiuwa	8	19
5:31	Jalen Brunson makes free throw 2 of 2	9	19
5:16	Jayson Tatum makes 28-foot three pointer (Derrick White assists)	9	22
5:06	Mikal Bridges misses 23-foot three point jumper	9	22
5:04	Derrick White defensive rebound	9	22
4:50	Josh Hart shooting foul	9	22
4:50	Jayson Tatum misses free throw 1 of 2	9	22
4:50	Celtics offensive team rebound	9	22
4:50	Jayson Tatum misses free throw 2 of 2	9	22
4:48	Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound	9	22
4:39	Josh Hart misses two point shot	9	22
4:38	Neemias Queta defensive rebound	9	22
4:18	Derrick White misses 23-foot three point jumper	9	22
4:17	Al Horford offensive rebound	9	22
4:16	Al Horford bad pass (Karl-Anthony Towns steals)	9	22
4:11	Jalen Brunson bad pass (Jaylen Brown steals)	9	22
4:10	Celtics Full timeout	9	22
4:10	(04:10) [Celtics] COACH'S CHALLENGE (CALL OVERTURNED) [Celtics] retain their timeout	9	22
4:10	Josh Hart shooting foul	9	22
4:10	Al Horford makes free throw 1 of 2	9	23
4:10	Al Horford makes free throw 2 of 2	9	24
4:10	Precious Achiuwa enters the game for Josh Hart	9	24
3:50	Jalen Brunson misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	9	24
3:47	Jaylen Brown defensive rebound	9	24
3:41	Jalen Brunson personal foul	9	24
3:41	Payton Pritchard enters the game for Derrick White	9	24
3:32	Payton Pritchard misses 26-foot three point jumper	9	24
3:28	Neemias Queta offensive rebound	9	24
3:27	Neemias Queta makes two point shot	9	26
3:10	Karl-Anthony Towns misses 3-foot two point shot	9	26
3:08	Jaylen Brown defensive rebound	9	26
2:52	Neemias Queta misses hook shot	9	26
2:51	Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound	9	26
2:50	Neemias Queta personal foul	9	26
2:50	Ariel Hukporti enters the game for Karl-Anthony Towns	9	26
2:50	Xavier Tillman enters the game for Al Horford	9	26
2:27	Mikal Bridges misses 8-foot pullup jump shot	9	26
2:23	Mikal Bridges offensive rebound	9	26
2:22	Mikal Bridges makes driving layup	11	26
2:08	Jaylen Brown makes 10-foot two point shot	11	28
1:56	Jalen Brunson makes 6-foot two point shot	13	28
1:43	Jaylen Brown bad pass (Miles McBride steals)	13	28
1:35	Mikal Bridges misses 11-foot step back jumpshot	13	28
1:34	Ariel Hukporti offensive rebound	13	28
1:34	Ariel Hukporti misses 1-foot tip shot	13	28
1:32	Jayson Tatum defensive rebound	13	28
1:12	Jayson Tatum misses 26-foot three point step back jumpshot	13	28
1:09	Knicks defensive team rebound	13	28
55.1	Jalen Brunson makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot	16	28
36.1	Jayson Tatum misses driving layup	16	28
35.1	Precious Achiuwa defensive rebound	16	28
32.1	Xavier Tillman shooting foul	16	28
32.1	Precious Achiuwa misses free throw 1 of 2	16	28
32.1	Knicks offensive team rebound	16	28
32.1	Cameron Payne enters the game for Jalen Brunson	16	28
32.1	Precious Achiuwa makes free throw 2 of 2	17	28
13.1	Ariel Hukporti shooting foul	17	28
13.1	Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 2	17	29
13.1	Karl-Anthony Towns enters the game for Precious Achiuwa	17	29
13.1	Jalen Brunson enters the game for Ariel Hukporti	17	29
13.1	Al Horford enters the game for Jayson Tatum	17	29
13.1	Sam Hauser enters the game for Xavier Tillman	17	29
13.1	Jaylen Brown makes free throw 2 of 2	17	30
1.0	Cameron Payne makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists)	19	30
0.0	(00:00) [Celtics] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (REPLAY SUPPORTS CALL)	19	30
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	19	30

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Madison Square Garden

New York, NY

Date & Time

1:30 AM, February 9, 2025

Coverage

ABC, ESPN+, ERADM

Attendance

19,812

Referees

Tyler Ford, Evan Scott, John Butler

2025-26 Atlantic Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Boston	39	20	.661	W1
New York	38	22	.633	W1
Toronto	35	25	.583	W1
Philadelphia	33	26	.559	W3
Brooklyn	15	44	.254	L7

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Tatum scores 40 points as the Celtics easily beat the Knicks for the 2nd time this season, 131-104

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