Immanuel Quickley scores 38 in start, Knicks outlast Celtics in 2 OTs

BOSTON (AP) —Immanuel Quickley scored a career-high 38 points, playing 55minutes in place of injured starter Jalen Brunson, and the New YorkKnicks outlasted the Boston Celtics 131-129 in two overtimes Sundaynight for their season-high ninth straight victory.

Quickley hadseven points in the second overtime and added eight rebounds andseven assists with Brunson sidelined because of soreness in hisleft foot.

“It was ahuge performance by him,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I wasgoing to give him rest at the start of the fourth, but then heknocked down a couple of shots and I thought the game was in thebalance right there.”

Julius Randlehad 31 points and nine rebounds, and RJ Barrett finished with 29points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who held on when Boston’s AlHorford front-rimmed a 3-pointer from the right corner just beforethe final buzzer.

“I just thinkI rushed it a little bit,” Horford said. “I felt like I didn’t staywith my shot long enough.”

Jayson Tatumled Boston with 40 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, JaylenBrown scored 29 points and Horford finished with 20 points and 14rebounds.

Boston, whichowned the NBA’s best record for much of the season, has droppedthree of four and is a 1 1/2 games behind Milwaukee for the EasternConference’s top spot.

“We’ve justgot to get our swagger back,” Celtics guard Derrick White said.“Find a way to play with each other, have fun out there. I’m surewe’ll get it back here soon.”

Randle had 43points in a victory at Miami on Friday that included anoff-balance, game-winning 3-pointer in the closing seconds.

The Celticswere also missing a couple of key players in starting center RobertWilliams III (left hamstring tightness) and reserve guard MalcolmBrogdon (right ankle soreness).

Quickleyscored New York’s first seven points of the second overtime on a3-pointer and two driving baskets,skipping in front ofBoston’s benchcelebrating after the last basket made it128-123.

“When I laidit up, it was still rolling around, so I kind of skipped it, willedit in,” he said, smiling when explaining his last basket. “I justkept skipping down the floor. I was having fun, though.”

Horfordnailed a 3-pointer from the right corner with 29.2 seconds left topush Boston ahead 121-119 in the first OT after Randle’s two freethrows had moved the Knicks in front.

ButQuickley’s driving one-handed flip in the lane tied it before Tatummissed on his baseline drive, sending it to double OT.

“Youcelebrate the team and you celebrate winning,” Thibodeau said ofQuickley’s dancing, at times, after key baskets. “I want our teamto have fun, I want them to have joy, but I don’t want it to getlost and I don’t want it to get twisted.”

Brown’sthree-point play with 12.9 seconds left sent it to overtime.

Coming off anembarrassing home loss in their last game when they blew a 28-pointlead against Brooklyn, the Celtics had opened a 14-point edgemidway into the third quarter. The Knicks closed the quarter with a9-0 surge and pushed their advantage to 100-89 on Obi Toppin’sdriving layup early in the final quarter.

BADEXAMPLE

Randle waswhistled for a technical by referee Brett Nansel when he wasshowing what happened after being called for an offensive foul. Theproblem was he used his left shoulder to bump into Nansel’s chestas he was explaining it.

TIP-INS

Knicks:Quickley hit a 3 for the game’s first basket, raising his fingersin celebration. … Brunson was the Eastern Conference’s player ofthe month for February, averaging 27.3 points, six assists andshooting 52.9%.

Celtics:Coach Joe Mazzulla said Williams could be out “seven to 10 days.” …Tatum was ejected with two technical fouls in the teams’ lastmeeting, a 109-94 loss in New York.

UPNEXT

Knicks: Hostthe Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday.

Celtics: Atthe Cleveland Cavaliers Monday