Analysis · NBA · Regular season, round 2
Jayson Tatum's 36 points carry Boston past New York
Tatum scored 36 on 11/16 inside the arc as Boston beat New York 107-103 at home and held off a late Knicks push.
Boston · Boston 107-103 New York
Jayson Tatum
- Points
- 36
- Rebounds
- 9
- Assists
- 7
- Threes
- 3/10
- PIR
- 39
Source: TeamKeys, 2026-10-23
How many points did Jayson Tatum score against the Knicks?
Jayson Tatum scored 36 points as Boston beat New York 107-103. He added 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals in 37 minutes, finishing with a PIR of 39.
Nobody else on the floor approached that output. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 22 points, while Paul George and Neemias Queta were Boston's next best scorers with 15 each.
How Tatum built his 36-point game
Tatum did most of his damage inside the arc, going 11/16 on two-pointers. He was a less productive 3/10 from three but perfect at the line, 5/5 on free throws.
The all-round line mattered as much as the scoring. His 9 rebounds and 7 assists came with only 2 turnovers, and his 3 steals gave Boston extra possessions at the other end.
Why the third quarter won it for Boston
Boston won the game in the third quarter, outscoring New York 33-24. The first half had been close, with the Knicks taking the first quarter 27-26 and Boston the second 24-22.
That cushion was needed because New York won the fourth quarter 30-24. Miles McBride scored 20 off the bench on 6/8 from three, and Towns posted 22 points against his 2025/2026 average of 19.2.
Towns ranked 10th in the league by TeamKeys Rating last season, and OG Anunoby added 20 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. For Boston, Queta chipped in 3 blocks in 22 minutes and Derrick White handed out 6 assists.
| Player | Points | PIR |
|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum (Boston) | 36 | 39 |
| OG Anunoby (New York) | 20 | 23 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (New York) | 22 | 22 |
| Josh Hart (New York) | 10 | 20 |
| Miles McBride (New York) | 20 | 19 |
| Derrick White (Boston) | 12 | 14 |
Where Boston and New York stand after round 2
The win lifts Boston to 1-1 and 15th of 30 in the NBA, with their form reading L, W. New York drop to 0-2 and sit 24th.
Toronto, Portland, Minnesota and the LA Lakers lead the table at 2-0. Boston face the Chicago Bulls on 26 October, while New York meet the Orlando Magic on 25 October still chasing a first win.
All figures come from the official box score of Boston Celtics 107, New York Knicks 103, NBA regular season 2026/2027, round 2, played on 23 October 2026.
Questions people ask
How many points did Jayson Tatum score against the Knicks?
Jayson Tatum scored 36 points in Boston's 107-103 win over New York on 23 October. He played 37 minutes, shooting 11/16 on two-pointers, 3/10 from three and 5/5 from the line, and added 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals.
Who led the Knicks in scoring against Boston?
Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 22 points and 10 rebounds in 37 minutes. OG Anunoby and Miles McBride both scored 20, with McBride making 6/8 from three off the bench, but the Knicks still lost 107-103 in Boston.
When do the Celtics and Knicks play next?
Boston, now 1-1 and 15th in the NBA, face the Chicago Bulls on 26 October. New York, 0-2 and 24th after a second straight defeat, play the Orlando Magic on 25 October looking for their first win of the season.
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