Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker had his best game of the season, and in his home state, as the New York Knicks fell to the Celtics 95-118 on Saturday night.
Overcoming yet another slow start, possibly bothered by New York’s length, Walker recorded a season-high 32 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals while shooting 11-17 from the field and 7-12 from three. He scored 11 of his 32 points in the middle of the fourth quarter, helping Boston overcome yet another rough shooting night from rising star Jayson Tatum.
Tatum had 15 points but shot just 5-17 from the field and 2-7 from three. However, he was crucial to Boston’s defensive efforts and their trapping scheme, coming up with four steals and nine rebounds on the night.
Notably, Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown and rookie forward Grant Williams continued to make their impact felt on both ends of the floor with winning plays.
Brown tallied 19 points on 6-14 shooting, going to the line a team-high eight times in a game that took all game for the Boston to soften up the defense. Williams, continuing to play as a small-ball center for the Celtics, had seven points on 3-4 shooting from the field but, more importantly, notched three steals and two blocks.
The Knicks, led by an aggressive R.J. Barrett (who finished with 26 points on 9-20 shooting from the field), battled hard but couldn’t keep control of the ball — or keep up with Boston’s scoring burst — in the fourth quarter.
