NEW YORK CITY — No Kristaps Porzingis, no Jrue Holiday, no problem for the Celtics, who got back in the win column with a 131-104 decimation of the Knicks. The victory was led by Jayson Tatum, who exploded for 40 points on 7 threes, Luke Kornet, who had one of his most effective games as a Celtic, and Payton Pritchard, who posted back-to-back 20+ point games for the first time since December.
Oh, and there was Derrick White, who tallied 14 points in a huge third-quarter run that resoundingly put the game out of reach.
By the waning minutes of the ball game, “Let’s Go Celtics” chants reverberated through Madison Square Garden, a tune that’s become increasingly familiar as the Celtics continue their dominant road season (en route to a league-best 21-6 away record).
It was a win that several Celtics, including Joe Mazzulla, deemed one of the most complete of the year.
“I think for the entire 48 minutes, we played with a level of connectivity on both ends, and that’s the most important thing,” Mazzulla said, who was as animated as he’s been all year as the Celtics’ completed several second-half runs.
“It was great for us to respond the way that we did, especially with some guys out tonight,” Tatum said. “The way we were connected on both ends of the floor — our toughness showed tonight.”
Payton Pritchard agreed.
“The intensity, being locked in, it was definitely there tonight,” Pritchard said. “We’re capable of doing really great things — it’s gotta be every night.
Here’s what stood out from a resounding win at Madison Square Garden:
Luke Kornet shines as starter in place of Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis wasn’t on the injury report going into Saturday’s primetime matchup, and he seemed ready for a big game against the team that drafted him. During warmups, Porzingis chatted with MSG employees who he knew from his time as a Knick and went through what appeared to be his usual routine.
But, just minutes before tip-off, Porzingis was a late scratch with an illness. So, Mazzulla turned to Luke Kornet for the last-minute start and had his good friend Payton Pritchard deliver the news.
“Joe came in [to the locker room], and Luke wasn’t in here, so Joe told me to tell Luke to be ready to be in the starting lineup,” Pritchard recounted after the game. “But, he did a good job. Thrown in right away, he did his job tonight.”
It was more than good for Kornet, who tallied 14 points on a perfect 7-7 from the field, 12 rebounds (5 offensive), and 3 blocks. The Celtics outscored the Knicks by 21 points during Kornet’s 28 minutes. And, with the Celtics’ beginning the game with a double-big lineup of Al Horford and Kornet, Knicks’ All-Star center Karl Anthony-Towns was limited to just 9 points.
“Big Luke played his ass off today,” Tatum said, looking over to a nearby Kornet with a proud smile. “He really set the tone to start — contesting, blocking shots.”
Jayson Tatum credited all the bigs for their performance tonight:
“Big Luke played his ass off today. He really set the tone to start — he’s contesting, blocking shots.”
(Q: @tvabby) pic.twitter.com/aQazmx0LCT
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) February 9, 2025
Pritchard, who recorded 25 points on 9-13 shooting (6-8 from three), 4 assists, and 4 rebounds, praised the bench’s ability to step up when starters are missing.
“It’s a next-man mentality,” Pritchard said. “This group is very deep. We got a lot of talent. People are ready for the opportunity when they came, I know I am. And that carries through everybody, 1 through 15.”
Mazzulla echoed that sentiment, also praising Neemias Queta, who had 11 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal in 26 minutes.
“It just gives guys an opportunity to step up,” Mazzulla said. “That’s the great thing about the locker room — guys are always ready.”
Jayson Tatum puts together a “special” performance in rout
Tatum finished the night with 40 points on 13-26 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Nearly half of his scoring output — 19 points on 6-9 shooting — came in the third quarter, helping to effectively bury the Knicks.
“That was a special performance,” Mazzulla said.
“He was special from the first play on,” White echoed.
Pritchard praised Tatum for what he described as an “unbelievable” performance: “He didn’t rush his shots, he got to his spots, and he was money. He broke the lead open for us, and that’s what a superstar does, what he did tonight.”
Tatum broke down what drove his sense of urgency from the jump.
“We lost last game, and then finding out that KP was out right before the game, we knew it was going to be a challenge,” he said. “And, I saw Denzel Washington sitting courtside, so I was excited about that.”
Tatum moved into 9th on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list Saturday. He also officially has more wins than any player since he joined the NBA.
“I think he’s still underrated,” Mazzulla said. “One of the best players out there.”
Payton Pritchard explodes for 25 points off the bench
With Kristaps Porzingis back in the lineup, Pritchard’s shot attempts and scoring have taken a hit in recent weeks, despite his efficiency remaining elite.
But, on Thursday, in the Celtics’ letdown loss to the Mavericks, the 27-year-old guard led a spirited comeback that saw a lineup of himself, Jordan Walsh, Drew Peterson, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser cut a 27-point fourth-quarter deficit to just 7.
The comeback was ultimately unsuccessful, as the Mavs’ starters were able to hang on, but it still infused life into a TD Garden crowd that desperately yearned for something to cheer for. And, it immensely helped Pritchard — who scored 17 points in that fourth-quarter rally — regain some offensive flow, which carried over to Saturday.
“I try to take advantage of those [opportunities],” Pritchard said. “You know, you can get stuck in a role sometimes, and you can become a little bit robotic, and I definitely get caught up in that at times. So, I always gotta remember to stay aggressive, even if the role doesn’t call for that at times.”
Pritchard finished with 21 points on 9-15 shooting on Thursday, and followed that with 25 points on 9-13 shooting on Saturday.
“It definitely helps create that confidence going into the next game and just carrying that over,” he said. “I know my team needs me to be aggressive.”
Torrey Craig on the sidelines for the first time as a Celtic
Torrey Craig, the Celtics’ newest signee, addressed reporters Saturday morning at Celtics’ shootaround and expressed his excitement at joining a championship contender.
While he wasn’t active on Saturday night as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury, Craig was locked into the game from the sidelines and emphatically celebrating the Celtics’ growing lead throughout the night, seemingly particularly stunned at Tatum’s takeover performance.
Earlier Saturday, Craig explained the decision to join the Celtics after he was waived by the Bulls last week.
“You always want to play for something and compete for something,” Craig said. “I’m a super competitor — and I want to play basketball the right way at the highest level. Just to get an opportunity to come play with these guys was a no-brainer.”
Mazzulla said pregame he was confident in Craig’s ability to come in right away and contribute.
“Played on a lot of good teams, a high-level defender, brings a lot of energy,” Mazzulla said. “Shot the ball well over the last three years, so a piece that we can add on both ends of the floor.”
And, while integrating midseason acquisitions can be difficult, Mazzulla believed the 34-year-old’s acclimation wouldn’t be too difficult.
“He’s versatile enough so where it could be seamless, from a tactical standpoint,” he said. “But obviously understanding the language and the situational stuff that comes up. But, just patient — obviously just give him a chance to learn the language, learn stuff. But at the same time, he’s played for a long time. So he can fit right in and help us at any time.”
Everyone loves playing in Madison Square Garden
In the backdrop of the win was the reality that the Celtics, like many NBA teams, love playing at Madison Square Garden.
Tatum himself admitted that the presence of celebrities like Denzel Washington made him want to put on a show, and Mazzulla said he could feel it from the sidelines as well.
“Once you get out there, and you feel the energy of the Garden, and you feel the energy of the two teams… it was obviously a game that the guys wanted,” Mazzulla said.
Pritchard, who is from Portland, Oregon, said he grew up watching games at MSG and dreamt of the chance to one day play there.
“Besides Boston, it’s probably the best place to play,” Tatum said. “They have all the celebrities, but they also have that edge about them. They know basketball.”
