Jalen Brunson said the New York Knicks returned to their identity Sunday night after a 111-89 win over the Boston Celtics at TD Garden, a result that moved the Eastern Conference contenders into a tie for second place at 34-19.
The All-Star guard finished with 31 points and eight assists as New York controlled the game for most of the final three quarters and snapped Boston’s five-game winning streak. “You have to give Detroit credit for how they played,” Brunson said. “We had to get back to what we’re doing and refocus. I think we did that today.”
New York’s defense held the Celtics to a season-low 89 points and forced a 7-of-41 night from three-point range, something Brunson linked to collective execution. “We were just connected on defense,” he said. “They can get hot quickly … they have a lot of shooters, and I think we’re just connected. We try to make it as difficult as possible.”
Boston shot 37% overall, and Brunson acknowledged the balance between effort and shot variance. “Also a bit of luck. They missed a few shots, but we know… they’ll be ready the next time we play,” he said.
The Knicks closed the third quarter on a 20–7 run to build an 85–68 lead entering the fourth, and Brunson later scored 10 straight points to push the margin above 20. Josh Hart added 19 points while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 11 points and 10 rebounds as New York outscored Boston in transition and limited second-chance looks.
One of the biggest storylines was Jose Alvarado’s debut following the Feb. 5 trade with New Orleans, and Brunson highlighted the newcomer’s immediate impact. “Yes. He was great,” Brunson said. “The impact he had on the game straight away was fantastic. That was what we needed.”
Brunson also praised rookie Mohamed Diawara, who has earned minutes on a team with playoff expectations. “When I played pickup before the season, I could tell he was really good, smart and talented,” he said. “He is really coachable… this is just the beginning for him.”
Despite the decisive score, Brunson described Boston as a long-term threat in the East after recent trade deadline changes, including the addition of Nikola Vucevic. “They will always be a dangerous team,” he said. “From the top to the bottom of the organization… they have championship aspirations and they always will, year in and year out.”
The win gave New York a slight lead in the race behind the league-leading Detroit Pistons, while Boston fell to third despite strong scoring nights from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Brunson emphasized that the result was just one step forward. “We just have to move forward knowing what we have to do as a team no matter who we play,” he said.
The Knicks host Indiana on Tuesday and the two Atlantic Division rivals meet again on April 9 in New York.
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