Tatum scores 36 as Celtics hold off defending-champion Knicks 107-103

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points as the Boston Celtics held off the defending NBA champion New York Knicks 107-103 on Friday night at TD Garden.

Why it matters: Both East contenders lost their openers, and the win keeps Boston from an 0-2 start.

How it was won

Boston led by 11 in the fourth quarter before a 16-5 Knicks run cut it to one, according to NBA.com. Tatum answered with three straight buckets, including a game-sealing 3-pointer, and scored seven of Boston's final eight points, CBS Boston reported.

Box score highlights

• Tatum: 36 points on 14-of-26 shooting, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals.
• Knicks: OG Anunoby 20 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists.

Tatum had scored 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting in the opening loss at Detroit. "That was a really well-balanced game from JT on both ends," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Sources: NBA.com; CBS Boston.