Knicks Praised by NBA Fans After Blowout Win vs. Celtics in Jose Alvarado's Debut

Jalen Brunson and Jose Alvarado led the New York Knicks to a 111-89 road win over Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics on Sunday, combining for 43 points in a statement victory.

In a matchup between the Eastern Conference's second- and third-place teams, New York took over behind 31 points, three rebounds and eight assists from Brunson, who shot 12-of-21 from the field.

Alvarado provided an immediate boost off the bench in his Knicks debut after being acquired from New Orleans, finishing with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Hart added 19 points and six rebounds.

For Boston, Brown led the way with 26 points, four rebounds and two assists. Derrick White scored 19 points, and newcomer Nikola Vucevic contributed 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Fans praised the Knicks following the convincing road win.

New York rebounded after seeing its eight-game winning streak snapped in a 118-80 loss to Eastern Conference-leading Detroit on Friday, bouncing back Sunday with a road win over the second-place Celtics.

Boston saw its five-game winning streak end and fell to 34-19, while the Knicks improved to 34-19 as they continued to chase the Celtics for second place in the East.

The Knicks carried a 60-53 halftime lead behind 19 points from Brunson. Mikal Bridges added 11 points, and Hart chipped in nine. For Boston, White scored 17 points in the first half, while Brown added 13 as the Celtics trailed by seven at the break.

New York pulled away after three quarters, building a 17-point cushion after Alvarado knocked down a floater with just under a minute remaining in the period. The Knicks kept the pressure on in the fourth, extending the margin to as many as 22 points to secure the road win.

The Knicks will return home to host the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. Boston will host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.