Randle scores 37, Knicks rally to beat Celtics 120-117 in OT

BOSTON (AP) —The Knicks are a young team that’s still learning how to stringtogether victories.

They’rehoping to bottle several lessons from their latest outing.

Julius Randlehad 37 points and nine rebounds, and hit the free throws that gaveNew York the lead for good in a 120-117 overtime win over theEast-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday night.

Jalen Brunsonadded 29 points, seven assists and a game-ending blocked shot forthe Knicks, who have won two straight. RJ Barrett had 19 points andImmanuel Quickley finished with 17 points and five rebounds.

“We held ourown,” Barrett said. “We played together and we played hard. We gotthe good result.”

Boston’sJaylen Brown had a chance to put the Celtics ahead with 7.6 secondsremaining, but misfired on two free throws, forcing the Celtics tofoul.

“Just got tobe better,” Brown said. “Tonight was just a rough game and I’m abetter basketball player than I played today. Those two free throwsembodied the whole game for me.”

Jayson Tatum,who was voted an All-Star game starter for the third consecutiveseason prior to tip-off, finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds.Brown added 22 points and nine rebounds for Boston, which has lostthree straight for just the second time this season.

New York ledby 13 in the fourth quarter but scored just four points in thefinal 5:26 of regulation to help the Celtics send the game toOT.

Randle saidhe never saw panic in his teammates’ eyes during the Celtics’comeback.

“Just poise,”he said. “We’ve been in those type of situations all year. So Ifeel like we’re getting more and more comfortable in thosesituations.”

Boston scoredthe first five points of the extra frame. New York responded byscoring the next six, taking a 116-115 lead on Barrett’s 3-pointerfrom the wing.

“I didn’thave a good shooting night, but I was ready to take that shot,”Barrett said. “I feel like we’re getting more comfortable in thosesituations.”

Brown nudgedthe Celtics back in front with a driving layup out of a timeoutwith 24 seconds remaining. Randle’s two free throws then put NewYork back in front for good at 118-117.

Boston had afinal chance to tie but Brunson blocked Malcolm Brogdon’s 3-pointtry.

Tatum hit hisfirst five shots of the night. He struggled in the second and thirdquarters but had 11 in the fourth quarter to lead Boston’srally.

The Celticsstruggled to find an offensive flow throughout, shooting 41% with13 turnovers.

FRANTIC FINISH

The Knicksoutscored the Celtics 33-25 in the third quarter and took asix-point edge into the fourth.

The lead grewto 102-89 on a pair of free throws by Miles McBride with just overseven minutes to play. The Celtics charged back and had a chance towin it regulation, but Tatum missed a 19-footer and Robert Williamshad his follow shot blocked as time expired.

TIP-INS

Knicks:Randle had a driving, one-handed dunk over Tatum late in the thirdthat was part of a 14-5 run to put New York in front 87-78. . …Outscored the Celtics 48-42 in the paint. … Evan Fournier missedhis second straight game (personal reasons).

Celtics:Dropped to 18-6 at home, with three of those defeats coming inovertime. ... Marcus Smart sat for the third straight game with asprained right ankle. Interim coach Joe Mazzulla said he is wearinga special sock to help reduce swelling. He remains day-to-day. …Boston hit 7 of their first 9 attempts from the field and led by asmany as 15 points in the first quarter. They finished the period byhitting 5 of their final 18 shots and held a 60-58 halftime lead. …Tuesday marked the Celtics’ 6,000th regular-season game.