The New York Knicks dominated the Celtics 111-89, spoiling Boston’s five-game winning streak on Sunday.
Jalen Brunson dropped 31 points, Josh Hart added 19, and Karl Anthony Towns finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Knicks. Mikal Bridges had 14 points, and newcomer Jose Alvarado contributed 12 points.
New York never trailed over the final 42 minutes.
On the other hand, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown finished with 26 points, Derrick White added 19, and Baylor Scheierman added 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
The Celtics shot 37% for the game and were 7-of-41 (17.1%) from behind the arc.
The matchup pitted two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, with Boston entering with a one-game lead over New York for second place.
Both teams will meet one more time on April 9 in New York.
The Knicks took advantage to 85-68 entering the fourth quarter after closing the third on a 20-7 run.
The lead kept growing when Brunson scored 10 straight points to give the Knicks a 23-point lead with four minutes left.
The Celtics revisited the “Hack-a-Robinson” strategy that was introduced during last spring’s playoff meeting with New York, but Mitchell Robinson made 2 of 2 at the line with 2:32 left in the third after making all four in the first half.
New York led 60-53 at halftime, and Boston trailed by as many as 17 points but made it a two-possession game entering the second half.
The Knicks host Indiana on Tuesday, while the Celtics host the Bulls on Wednesday.
