Jalen Brunson leads scorching Knicks past Celtics

Jalen Brunson scored 31 points and had eight assists to lead the visiting New York Knicks to a 111-89 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

The victory ended Boston's five-game winning streak and moved the Knicks into a second-place tie with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams are five games behind Detroit.

Josh Hart added 19 points for New York, which received 12 points from Jose Alvarado in his debut with the Knicks. New York acquired Alvarado in a trade with New Orleans on Thursday.

Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds as New York won for the ninth time in 10 games.

The Celtics shot 7 of 41 from 3-point territory (17.1%), and the 89 points were the fewest Boston has scored in a game this season.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 26 points and Derrick White finished with 19. Boston received 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists from Baylor Scheierman.

New York's OG Anunoby missed his second straight game with toe soreness on his right foot. Anunoby is averaging 16.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 41 games this season (all starts).

The Knicks led 35-24 after the first quarter. Brunson had 15 points in the quarter, when Boston was 2 of 13 from 3-point territory.

New York stretched its lead to 17 points with 8:02 remaining in the second quarter, but the Celtics were within seven, 60-53, at halftime. The Knicks shot 60% from the field (24 of 40) in the first half.

The Knicks scored the final seven points in the third quarter and held an 85-68 lead entering the fourth. Boston was 0 for 10 from 3-point range in the third.

New York led by as many as 24 points in the final quarter.

The Knicks have won two of three meetings with the Celtics this season.

--Field Level Media