Knicks Rally Past Celtics 112-106 at Madison Square Garden

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 112-106 on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Madison Square Garden, with Josh Hart leading all scorers with 26 points and Jalen Brunson adding a steady 25-point, 10-assist performance as New York finished strong in the fourth quarter.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Boston opened with a slight edge and took the first period 29-26. The Celtics found an early rhythm from the perimeter and did enough to stay in front despite New York keeping the game within one possession for much of the quarter.

Second Quarter

The Knicks responded in the second, outscoring Boston 28-24 to even the game at 54-54 by halftime. New York’s offense became more efficient, moving the ball well and generating quality looks as the Celtics’ early cushion disappeared.

Third Quarter

Boston regained a narrow advantage in the third with a 30-27 quarter. Jayson Tatum continued to drive the visitors offensively, and the Celtics entered the fourth quarter ahead 84-81 after another closely contested stretch.

Fourth Quarter

The decisive swing came in the final 12 minutes, when the Knicks outscored the Celtics 31-23. New York executed better down the stretch, got timely shot-making from Hart and Brunson, and held Boston to one of its lowest-scoring quarters of the night to come away with the six-point win.

Key Performers

New York Knicks
Josh Hart led all scorers with 26 points, setting the pace for New York’s offense. Jalen Brunson delivered 25 points and 10 assists, controlling tempo and creating opportunities throughout the night. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks on the glass with 12 rebounds.

As a team, New York shot 53.8% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range, while also recording 29 assists on 43 made baskets. That efficiency helped offset Boston’s rebounding edge.

Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum paced the Celtics with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists in an all-around effort. Boston also finished with a 42-30 rebounding advantage and knocked down 16 three-pointers, but its 45.2% overall shooting and quieter fourth quarter limited its closing push.

NerdSports Stat: The Knicks won by six despite being outrebounded by 12, thanks to a major efficiency gap: New York scored 1.40 points per made field goal compared with Boston’s 1.29, fueled by 15 made threes and 29 assists on 43 baskets.

Game Analysis

This game turned on offensive efficiency and late-game execution. Boston attempted more shots and controlled the glass, but New York made better use of its possessions. The Knicks shot over 53% from the field, shared the ball consistently, and found enough perimeter scoring to stay within reach until the closing minutes.

The fourth quarter highlighted the difference. While Boston entered the period with a three-point lead, New York tightened up defensively and made the cleaner offensive reads. Brunson’s playmaking helped organize the attack, and Hart’s scoring gave the Knicks a reliable finishing option as they pulled ahead.

Another important factor was shot distribution. Boston made 16 threes, but it needed 43 attempts to get there. New York made 15 threes on just 35 attempts, a more efficient night from long distance that helped balance out the Celtics’ edge in rebounds and free-throw accuracy.

Closing Context

With the win, the Knicks improved to 52-28 and continued to strengthen their position in the Eastern Conference race while moving to 29-9 at home. The Celtics dropped to 54-26, keeping the top of the conference tightly packed as the regular season nears its finish. For New York, this was an important result against a fellow East contender and another strong home performance at a key point in the schedule.

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