BOSTON -- The Celtics lost to the Knicks for a second time within a week as New York took down Boston, 131-129, in a double overtime thriller on Sunday night at TD Garden.
The loss, which was Boston's third in its last four games, dropped the Celtics to 45-20 while the Knicks won their ninth straight contest to improve to 39-27.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
.It's rather strange, but the Celtics are having major issues protecting double-digit leads.
After blowing a 28-point advantage to the Brooklyn Nets, Boston seemed well-positioned to get back into the win column against the Knicks. The Celtics took a 14-point lead with 6:27 left after a Grant Williams 3-pointer.
But then the Celtics, as they have become prone to doing, took their foot off the gas pedal and the Knicks came storming back. And New York didn't even have its best player in Jalen Brunson, who was out with a foot injury.
Boston mounted a furious rally on its own, but that's a very dangerous game to play as they found out. The Celtics forced overtime, but it really shouldn't have got to that point. They couldn't take care of business in regulation when they had the chance and it cost them.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Immanuel Quickly did plenty of celebrating on the famed parquet and he had plenty of reason for it. The third-year guard was a difference-maker for the Knicks, tallying a career-high 38 points while grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out seven assists and collecting four steals.
-- Jayson Tatum was his usual self for the Celtics. He poured in a game-high 40 points to go along with 11 rebounds and six assists.
-- Julius Randle turned in a big-time performance for the Knicks. He netted 31 points to go along with nine rebounds.
WAGER WATCH
DraftKings Sportsbook set Al Horford's over/under for rebounds at 6.5 with +120 odds on the Over. It took the Celtics big only until halftime to surpass the mark and he finished with 14 total rebounds. A $100 wager on the prop bet would have netted $220.
UP NEXT
There is no rest for the Celtics as they play the second leg of a back-to-back Monday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who Boston just defeated this past Wednesday at TD Garden. Tipoff for this contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
