Jaylen Brown lit up TD Garden on Tuesday night, scoring a season-high 42 points to guide the Boston Celtics to a 123 – 117 win over the visiting New York Knicks.
Brown looked impregnable, sinking 16 of 24 shots from the bottom and eight of nine free throws, marking his third 40-point spin of the season.
The Celtics, who have been in fine form lately, managed to hold off a late swell from the Knicks, who were on a four-game winning streak.
Mikal Islands kept New York in contention with a season-high 35 points, including a career-high eight three-pointers.
Yet, despite his heroics, the callers couldn’t relatively close the gap in the ending seconds. With 45.5 seconds left, the Islands drilled a three to make it 119 – 115, but the Knicks failed to score again, leaving Boston to seal the win.
Celtics’ team effort proves key in high-stakes NBA clash
Derrick White was necessary for the Celtics, contributing 22 points and five assists, while Anfernee Simons added 12 off the bench.
Neemias Queta also impressed with eight points and six rebounds, giving Boston the depth they demanded to secure the win.
For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 29 points and seven rebounds, supported by Josh Hart’s 19 points.
JAYLEN BROWN putting up MVP level numbers against the Knicks
42 PTS
4 REB
4 AST
16-24 FGC’S BEAT THE KNICKS ☘️#NBAAfrica #NBA pic.twitter.com/cxAlMlTSO0
— NBA Africa (@NBA_Africa) December 3, 2025
New York was strong from beyond the bow, making 19 of 44 three-point attempts (43.2), but they plodded to convert at pivotal moments.
Jalen Brunson, typically a fat arranger, endured a rare off night, managing just 15 points on 6 of 21 firing, well below his season normal of 28.5 points.
Jaylen Brown’s brilliance seals Boston’s victory
Brown’s fostering performance, combined with Boston’s balanced platoon trouble, proved decisive in the NBA showdown.
The Celtics showed they can rely on multiple songwriters to grind out palms, maintaining instigation in the early stages of the season.
Meanwhile, the Knicks will look to regroup after a hard-fought loss, despite emotional three-point firing and strong individual sweats.
