Towns, Knicks Dominate Celtics with Strong Second Quarter

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his second consecutive double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds to guide the New York Knicks to a 105-95 win over the Boston Celtics. Towns’ performance was highlighted by his seven points in the dominant second quarter, when the Knicks outscored Boston 42-14. This win marks New York’s 2-0 start for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 31 points, while starters Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Miles McBride each contributed double figures with 12, 10, and 10 points respectively. Anunoby scored all his points during the second-quarter surge. Josh Hart, returning after missing the previous game with back spasms, collected 14 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, providing a crucial boost to the team.

Boston started strong, scoring the first six points and maintaining a lead throughout most of the first quarter. Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, Sam Hauser added 18, Derrick White finished with 15, and Anfernee Simons contributed 10 off the bench. The Celtics appeared to control the game early, reaching a 30-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Knicks turned the game around in the second quarter with three long scoring runs. Anunoby’s five points sparked an 11-0 opening surge, briefly giving Boston a lead. However, New York responded with a 17-0 run involving seven different scorers. Tyler Kolek’s layup put the Knicks ahead 37-36, and New York extended its lead to 64-44 by halftime, outscoring Boston 42-14 in the quarter.

The Knicks continued their dominance in the third quarter, opening two separate 24-point leads and ending the period 82-65. Towns, Brunson, and other starters maintained consistent scoring, preventing the Celtics from mounting a significant comeback.

Boston outscored the Knicks 30-23 in the final quarter, but it was not enough to reduce the deficit. The closest the Celtics came was nine points, and New York maintained control until the final buzzer to secure a 105-95 victory.

New York’s balanced attack and dominant second quarter highlighted the importance of team depth and consistency. Karl-Anthony Towns led the effort, supported by Brunson and other key players. Boston showed early promise but could not recover from the Knicks’ decisive runs, giving New York a strong start to the season.