The Boston Celtics held their ground in a high-energy battle at TD Garden on Tuesday night, edging out the New York Knicks 123-117 in a game that had the feel of a playoff rematch-and for good reason. This was the first meeting between the two teams since their heated clash in last season’s conference semifinals, and the intensity didn’t miss a beat.
Jaylen Brown was the headline act, and he earned it. The Celtics star poured in a season-high 42 points, slicing through the Knicks' defense with poise and purpose.
Brown was locked in from the jump, finishing 16-of-24 from the field while adding four rebounds and four assists to round out a complete performance. Whether it was Mikal Bridges draped on him or Josh Hart trying to body him up, Brown didn’t flinch.
He was decisive, aggressive, and efficient-everything Boston needed him to be.
This wasn’t just a scoring outburst-it was a statement. Brown didn’t force shots or play hero ball.
He let the game come to him, and when it did, he made the most of it. The Celtics fed off his energy, especially in the second half when the Knicks kept pushing back.
On the other side, Mikal Bridges was every bit the competitor. He led New York with 35 points on a scorching 12-of-17 shooting night, including 8-of-12 from deep.
Joe Mazzulla was asked about Mikal Bridges exchanging words with the Celtics' bench:
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 3, 2025
"I don't mind that stuff. I like it. It's part of the game. Keeps me going and I thought the guys handled it well." pic.twitter.com/58dnDSTneu
He was fearless, pulling up from distance and attacking the rim with confidence. Bridges also chipped in six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, doing everything he could to keep the Knicks within striking distance.
But Bridges didn’t just let his game do the talking-he had some words for the Celtics’ bench, too. Throughout the night, he chirped at Boston’s sideline, trying to inject a little extra edge into the contest. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wasn’t fazed.
“I don't mind that stuff. I like it.
It's part of the game,” Mazzulla said. “It keeps me going, and I thought the guys handled it well.”
Mazzulla, known for his own competitive fire, saw it for what it was-a bit of gamesmanship. And while Bridges tried to rattle the Celtics, it didn’t throw them off their rhythm. If anything, it seemed to sharpen their focus.
Mikal Bridges looks back at beating the Celtics & how they're different now: "They still got coach Mazzulla and I think he's a hell of a coach. They got guys that are gonna play hard, smart, a lot of talent. I know they got guys banged up or not here, but they got next man up." pic.twitter.com/JxB7kxtbtQ
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) December 2, 2025
After the game, Bridges showed respect for the Celtics and their coach.
“I think he's a hell of a coach,” Bridges said. “They got guys that are gonna play hard and smart.
They have a lot of talent. I know they got guys banged up or not here, but they got next man up.”
That’s been the Celtics’ identity all season-resilient, deep, and unafraid of the moment. Even with injuries and roster shuffling, they’ve found ways to stay competitive in a tightly packed Eastern Conference.
With the win, Boston moved to 12-9 on the season, while the Knicks slipped to 13-7. But if this game was any indication, these two teams are on a collision course once again.
The intensity, the talent, the back-and-forth-it all felt like a preview of something bigger down the line. And if we’re lucky, we’ll get to see them settle it again when the stakes are even higher.