Knicks topple Celtics behind Jalen Brunson’s huge night to keep push for No. 2 seed alive

The New York Knicks secured a crucial victory in their pursuit of the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a thrilling 111-105 win over their long-time rivals, the Boston Celtics, at Madison Square Garden on [current date]. Jalen Brunson led the charge for the Knicks with a career-high 41 points and eight assists, shooting an impressive 15-of-23 from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Brunson's outstanding performance came at a pivotal moment for the Knicks, who were looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss against the Milwaukee Bucks and maintain their position in the second place in the Eastern Conference standings. With this win, New York improved their record to 47-31, just half a game behind the Miami Heat (48-30) who currently hold the second spot.

Julius Randle added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, while RJ Barrett chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 31 points, while Jayson Tatum finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.

The first half was a closely contested affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. The Knicks led by as many as seven points in the second quarter but went into halftime trailing by one point, 57-56. The third quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets and neither team able to gain a substantial lead.

However, it was in the fourth quarter that Brunson took over the game. He scored 17 of his team's 31 points in the final frame, including a clutch three-pointer with just over a minute remaining that put the Knicks up by four points and effectively sealed the victory.

With this win, the Knicks kept their hopes of securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference alive. They will next face the Charlotte Hornets on [next game date], while the Celtics will look to bounce back when they take on the Chicago Bulls on [next game date].