Game ID: 22400811
New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET
TD Garden, Boston, MA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BOS 38 26 25 29 118NYK 19 24 39 23 105
BOS vs NYK ScoutingBOS vs NYK Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BOS availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Scheierman missed 7 since 1/25, returns tonight: 4 min (39% of 12)
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 21 min since (74% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 18 min since (86% of 21)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 10 min since (72% of 13)
BOS availability going into 2/10 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Horford back 1/31 after 2, 23 min since (82% of 28)
BACK Hauser back 1/31 after 2, 18 min since (86% of 21)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 18 min since (135% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 4 min since (39% of 12)
BOS availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 2/06, out tonight
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 14 min since (105% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 7 min since (63% of 12)
BOS availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Brown missed 2 since 2/10, returns tonight: 27 min (78% of 35)
OUT Holiday missed 4 since 2/06, returns tonight: 20 min (64% of 31)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 11 min since (80% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 6 min since (56% of 12)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 33 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 2/23 · 2 days' restBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 27 min since (78% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 20 min since (64% of 31)
BACK Queta back 2/06 after 3, 9 min since (71% of 13)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 5 min since (43% of 12)
BOS availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (92% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 26 min since (83% of 31)
BACK Scheierman back 2/08 after 7, 5 min since (43% of 12)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 32 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 2/26 · back-to-backBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 26 min since (83% of 31)
NEW Porziņģis 27 to 32 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Kornet missed 2 since 2/25, returns tonight: 19 min (105% of 18)
BACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 32 min since (93% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 28 min since (89% of 31)
BOS availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restBACK Brown back 2/20 after 2, 33 min since (95% of 35)
BACK Holiday back 2/20 after 4, 28 min since (89% of 31)
BACK Kornet back 2/28 after 2, 19 min since (105% of 18)
NYK availability going into 2/11 · 2 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 3 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/12 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 4 since 2/03, out tonight
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/20 · 7 days' restOUT Anunoby missed 5 since 2/03, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 2 since 2/11, returns tonight: 0 min (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 36 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/21 · back-to-backOUT Anunoby missed 6 since 2/03, returns tonight: 27 min (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 0 min since (4% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 38 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/23 · 1 day's restOUT Hart missed 2 since 2/20, returns tonight: 40 min (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 27 min since (72% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 37 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/26 · 2 days' restBACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 40 min since (108% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 31 min since (84% of 37)
BACK Wright back 2/20 after 2, 5 min since (34% of 14)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 33 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 2/28 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 2 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 39 min since (105% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 35 min since (94% of 37)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 32 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/02 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 3 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 36 min since (96% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 36 min since (96% of 37)
NEW Achiuwa 18 to 25 min over the last 5
NYK availability going into 3/04 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 4 since 2/23, out tonight
BACK Hart back 2/23 after 2, 38 min since (101% of 37)
BACK Anunoby back 2/21 after 6, 37 min since (100% of 37)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 17 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 129, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Towns at 30 and Brunson at 26 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Hart (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to New York's 129 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-9 a night and New York minus-6. Call it Boston 121, New York 111, Boston by 10.
2/08 @ NYK 131-104 — BOS notes
BOS won 131-104. BOS shot 54% (46 of 85) to NYK's 42%, 19 of 39 from three. The glass went 48-30 for them. Tatum led with 40 (13 of 26, 7 of 14 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Pritchard added 25, White 17. The hinge was Q1, 30-19: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
2/10 @ MIA 103-85 — BOS notes
BOS won 103-85. BOS shot 46% (39 of 85) to MIA's 34%, 17 of 53 from three. Tatum led with 33 (13 of 26, 4 of 12 from three); Porziņģis added 17, Horford 16. The hinge was Q2, 34-19: BOS came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 24. Porziņģis was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/12 vs SAS 116-103 — BOS notes
BOS won 116-103. BOS shot 46% (42 of 91) to SAS's 44%, 18 of 55 from three, and went to the line 21 times to SAS's 12 — 14 points from the stripe to their 10. BOS turned it over 15 times to SAS's 8, and SAS turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 56-38 for them. Tatum led with 32 (12 of 25, 4 of 14 from three, 4 of 8 at the line); Porziņģis added 29, White 19. The hinge was Q1, 37-19: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 24. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
2/20 @ PHI 124-104 — BOS notes
BOS won 124-104. BOS shot 48% (43 of 89) to PHI's 43%, 24 of 54 from three. Pritchard led with 28 (10 of 18, 8 of 15 from three); Brown added 20, Porziņģis 17. The hinge was Q3, 28-18: a lead of 16 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/23 vs NYK 118-105 — BOS notes
BOS won 118-105. BOS shot 49% (45 of 91) to NYK's 43%, 17 of 44 from three. Tatum led with 25 (8 of 20, 3 of 10 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Brown added 24, White 19. The hinge was Q1, 38-19: from level to 19 ahead, and the lead reached 27. White was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/25 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 111, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Barrett at 26 and Quickley at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (7 straight), Battle (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 100, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Porziņģis at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-10 a night and Toronto minus-1 and the defense, Boston allowing 100 a night to Toronto's 111. Call it Boston 115, Toronto 108.
2/26 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 110, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 26 free throws a game; Cunningham at 29 and Harris at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Harper Jr. (8 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 100, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 25 and Brown at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Detroit wins, and the game turns on the line, where Detroit takes 26 free throws a game to Boston's 13 and the defense, Boston allowing 100 a night to Detroit's 110. Call it Detroit 114, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
2/28 vs CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 14 free throws a game; Tatum at 24 and Brown at 23 a game. Without Kornet (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 19 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 14 a night. Without Garland (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-14 a night and Boston plus-2 and the line, where Cleveland takes 23 free throws a game to Boston's 14. Call it Cleveland 115, Boston 112, Boston keeping it close.
3/02 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 13 free throws a game; Tatum at 26 and Brown at 26 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 23 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Watson (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-9 a night and Boston minus-2 and the turnovers, Denver giving it away 17 times a game to Boston's 12. Call it Boston 117, Denver 114, Denver keeping it close.
2/11 @ IND 128-115 — NYK notes
NYK won 128-115. NYK shot 54% (49 of 91) to IND's 48%, 10 of 27 from three. The glass went 48-36 for them. Towns led with 40 (14 of 23, 3 of 8 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Hart added 30, McBride 15. The hinge was Q2, 41-34: a lead of 1 became 8, and the lead reached 21. McBride was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
2/12 vs ATL 149-148 — NYK notes
NYK won 149-148 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 57% (54 of 94) to ATL's 50%, 11 of 26 from three. NYK turned it over 17 times to ATL's 12, and ATL turned those into 12 steals. Towns led with 44 (14 of 25, 7 of 10 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Brunson added 36, Achiuwa 26. The hinge was Q1, 38-29: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
2/20 vs CHI 113-111 — NYK notes
NYK won 113-111 in 1 overtime. NYK shot 43% (46 of 107) to CHI's 40%, 14 of 46 from three. Towns led with 32 (14 of 30, 2 of 10 from three); McBride added 23, Brunson 22. The hinge was Q2, 31-22: NYK came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 7.
2/21 @ CLE 105-142 — NYK notes
NYK lost 105-142. NYK shot 47% (42 of 89) to CLE's 61%, 10 of 28 from three. The glass went 32-47 against them. Brunson led with 26 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); Towns added 23, Bridges 14. Q3 was theirs, 29-33, but the other 3 periods went 109-76 against them. Achiuwa's -25 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ BOS 105-118 — NYK notes
NYK lost 105-118. NYK shot 43% (40 of 92) to BOS's 49%, 14 of 36 from three. Towns led with 24 (9 of 20, 3 of 4 from three); Brunson added 22, Hart 20. Q3 was theirs, 39-25, the deficit cut from 21 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 93-66 against them. Bridges's -23 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/26 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 127, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Towns at 33 and Brunson at 23 a game. 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 115, shooting 42 percent and 24 from three, 23 free throws a game; Embiid at 19 and Oubre Jr. at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Edwards (3 straight), Okeke (6 straight), Lowry (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, New York at 36 percent from three to Philadelphia's 24 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 115 a night to New York's 127. Call it New York 118, Philadelphia 112.
2/28 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 21 and Jackson Jr. at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. 2 days' rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 125, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Towns at 31 and Brunson at 28 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Memphis wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Memphis 122, New York 118, New York keeping it close.
3/02 @ MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Herro at 26 and Wiggins at 21 a game. Without Jović (3 straight). One day's rest. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Brunson at 25 and Towns at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Miami has been plus-2 a night and New York minus-8 and the defense, Miami allowing 112 a night to New York's 118. Call it Miami 115, New York 111, New York keeping it close.
3/04 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Brunson at 27 and Towns at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 107, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 24 free throws a game; Curry at 30 and Green at 14 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Kuminga (27 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-4 a night and New York minus-5 and the defense, Golden State allowing 107 a night to New York's 118. Call it New York 115, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JB J. Brown
JH J. Holiday
JT J. Tatum
KP K. Porziņģis
LK L. Kornet
PP P. Pritchard
PO Porzingis
SH S. Hauser
NYKCP C. Payne
JB J. Brunson
JH J. Hart
KT K. Towns
LS L. Shamet
MB M. Bridges
MM M. McBride
OA O. Anunoby
PA P. Achiuwa
BOS/NYK the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Jayson Tatum scores 25 points as Celtics cruise to 118-105 win over Knicks
BOSTON -- — Jayson Tatum scored 25 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Boston Celtics to a 118-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday.
Tatum just missed getting a triple-double for the second straight game after earning one in a victory at Philadelphia on Thursday.
Jaylen Brown had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Derrick White finished with 19 points for Boston, which won its fifth straight and improved to 3-0 against the Knicks this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 24 points and Jalen Brunson had 22.
The Knicks had whittled a 77-50 third-quarter deficit down to 95-89 on Mikal Bridges’ driving basket early in final quarter before the Celtics went on a 10-0 spree to take control. Brown had the last six points in the run.
Coming off a 37-point loss at the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday , the Knicks fell behind by 27 points after Brown and Tatum hit consecutive 3s just 20 seconds apart early in third quarter.
Takeaways Knicks: Josh Hart returned after missing the past two games with a sore right knee. Despite giving them solid defense and offense production (20 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists), it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the gap between the teams.
Celtics: They beat the Knicks by 23 and 27 in their first two meetings this season.
Key moment With the Knicks climbing back, White threw an inbounds pass to Kristaps Porzingis , who had a one-handed slam that brought the crowd into it during Boston’s 10-0 spurt and ended New York’s threat for a big comeback.
Key stat Boston is averaging 127 points in its three wins versus New York.
Up next The Knicks host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday and the Celtics are at the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday.