# Jayson Tatum Scores 36 as Celtics Hold Off Knicks 107-103

Tatum scored 25 points after halftime and delivered seven of Boston’s final eight as the Celtics survived New York’s fourth-quarter comeback at TD Garden.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / NBA
Published: 2026-10-23T23:18:00Z
Updated: 2026-10-24T05:10:00Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/knicks-celtics-live-1e9s9hf
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/0b36381f57acde2f3a7d5173c0876a2a.jpg (Basketball court and championship banners inside TD Garden; credit: The Vendry / TD Garden)

## Summary
- Boston beat New York 107-103, improving to 1-1 while dropping the defending champion Knicks to 0-2.
- Jayson Tatum finished with 36 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, scoring 25 points in the second half.
- Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 22 points and 10 rebounds; OG Anunoby added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
- The Knicks cut a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to one before Tatum answered with decisive late baskets.

## Tatum closes out Boston’s first win

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points, including 25 after halftime, as the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 107-103 on Friday night at TD Garden. The NBA’s game center and independent postgame reports recorded Boston’s first victory of the 2026-27 season, leaving the Celtics and Knicks with contrasting 1-1 and 0-2 records. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-bos-0022600008) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/)

Boston led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter before New York used a 9-0 run to pull within 99-98. Tatum stopped the comeback with a jump shot and then a three-pointer, scoring seven consecutive Celtics points during the final 100 seconds. Payton Pritchard’s free throw with 11 seconds remaining supplied the final margin. [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/)

Tatum also collected nine rebounds and seven assists. Paul George and reserve center Neemias Queta scored 15 points apiece for Boston, while Derrick White added 12. The result was a response to Boston’s season-opening loss to Detroit, when the Celtics surrendered a 22-point second-half lead. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-bos-0022600008) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/)

## Knicks’ comeback falls short

Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 22 points and 10 rebounds. OG Anunoby had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Miles McBride supplied 20 points from the bench, Jalen Brunson scored 19 and Josh Hart added 10 points and 12 rebounds. The balanced production brought the Knicks back into contention but did not produce their first victory. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-bos-0022600008) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/)

New York’s offense also carried costly gaps. Mikal Bridges missed all eight of his field-goal attempts and did not score, while a late moving-screen call against Towns ended one possession during the comeback attempt. The Knicks had opened their championship defense with a 106-100 loss to Philadelphia. [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/)

The game was the rivals’ first meeting since New York eliminated Boston in six games during the 2026 playoffs. This time, Tatum’s late execution prevented another collapse and gave the Celtics an early-season response after their difficult opener. New York returns home still seeking its first win, while Boston moves forward with its first completed victory of the season. [1](https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-bos-0022600008) [2](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) [3](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/)

## Reporting sources
1. [NBA: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics — October 23, 2026](https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-bos-0022600008) (2026-10-23)
2. [Reuters: Jayson Tatum puts up 36 as Celtics send Knicks to second straight loss](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-puts-up-36-celtics-send-knicks-second-straight-loss--flm-2026-10-24/) (2026-10-24)
3. [CBS Sports: Jayson Tatum scores 36 to lift Celtics past Knicks](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/live/NBA_20261023_NY@BOS/) (2026-10-23)