NYK 111, BOS 89: Jalen Brunson Contributes 43.6 Yahoo FP
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician · Boston Celtics fan
Knicks Steamroll Celtics 111-89, Brunson Puts On A Clinic While Boston's Role Players Disappear
Look, I'm gonna be straight with you. As a Celtics guy, this one stings. But I'm not here to cry about it. I'm here to tell you what actually happened and what it means for your fantasy teams.
The Knicks absolutely worked Boston last night. 111-89. That's not close. That's not a "well they played without Jayson Tatum" type loss. That's the Knicks' depth and guard play flexing on the Celtics' role players going completely silent. And honestly, your fantasy lineups probably felt that pain.
Top Performers
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 51.0 | 43.6 | 31/3/8 | 27.1/3.3/6.1 | +3.9 |
| Jaylen Brown | 37.0 | 38.4 | 26/2/4 | 29.4/6.9/4.7 | -3.4 |
| Baylor Scheierman | 31.0 | 32.1 | 10/13/5 | 3.7/2.8/1.0 | +6.3 |
| Josh Hart | 30.0 | 29.7 | 19/6/3 | 12.2/7.5/5.0 | +6.8 |
| Derrick White | 31.0 | 26.2 | 19/1/4 | 17.4/4.4/5.5 | +1.6 |
| Jose Alvarado | 28.0 | 25.4 | 12/2/2 | 8.0/2.8/3.1 | +4.0 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 17.0 | 24.5 | 11/10/1 | 19.7/11.9/2.9 | -8.7 |
| Payton Pritchard | 24.0 | 23.9 | 6/2/7 | 17.1/4.2/5.3 | -11.1 |
| Mikal Bridges | 25.0 | 23.3 | 14/4/1 | 15.7/4.1/4.1 | -1.7 |
| Nikola Vučević | 15.0 | 19.2 | 11/6/0 | 16.6/9.0/3.7 | -5.6 |
Brunson Was Ridiculous (43.6 Yahoo FP)
Jalen Brunson put on a master class. 31 points on 12-21 shooting, 8 assists, elite efficiency. That's +3.9 vs his season average. This wasn't him overachieving against his norm. This was him doing what All-NBA Second Team guys do when they get the right rhythm.
Here's the thing though, and I say this knowing some of you own him: if you're thinking about trading him, don't. If you're thinking about selling high, pump the brakes. This is just Brunson being Brunson. He's been the Knicks' guy all year and will continue to be. You ride it out.
The Scheierman Surprise (32.1 Yahoo FP)
Baylor Scheierman dropped 32.1 Yahoo points on 10/13/5. Let me do the math for you: he's averaging 3.7 PPG on the season. Tonight he went +6.3 in scoring alone. That's not sustainable.
But here's why his name is getting added in leagues: 13 rebounds in 29 minutes is a real thing. The Celtics were getting worked inside, and Scheierman was there to feast. In a 22-point blowout, role players get opportunity. The question is whether that's a real shift in his role or just a game where the matchup went his way.
My take: Scheierman's a flier, not a pickup. Add him if you're desperate and in a deeper league. But don't burn a waiver claim on him expecting 30+ point nights.
The Celtics Role Player Collapse
This is where it got ugly. Payton Pritchard scored 6 points on 2-9 shooting. That's -11.1 from his season average of 17.1. Nikola Vučević was invisible with 11 points and zero assists on 5-13 shooting, down 5.6 from his average.
When your bench players all go quiet in a blowout, that's not really a trend. That's just what happens when a team gets run out of the gym. But if you're considering dropping Pritchard because of one rough night, don't. The Sixth Man of the Year award winner doesn't lose that status in one game.
That said, if you have bench depth and need wins this week, you might want to pivot away from relying on secondary Celtics guys until they can show consistency. The Knicks' depth just exposed how thin Boston's supporting cast looks right now.
Josh Hart and the Knicks Role Player Success
Josh Hart hit for 29.7 Yahoo points and Jose Alvarado chipped in 25.4. Both came off the bench and both were +4 to +6.8 from their season averages. The Knicks have something cooking with their secondary guys right now.
Alvarado is getting added in leagues, and honestly, I get it. He's only 2.4% owned. In a blowout win where the bench gets minutes, he delivered. But before you jump on him, understand this is a guy averaging 8 points on the season. One good night doesn't flip the script. What matters is whether he keeps getting 25 minutes. If he does, he's worth the add in deep leagues. If this was a garbage time situation, he goes back to irrelevance.
The Real Story: Depth Matters
The Knicks had six guys in double figures. The Celtics had three. In a game this lopsided, that's everything.
This doesn't mean panic on your Celtics guys long term. Jaylen Brown still went for 38.4 Yahoo points despite the loss. He was just -3.4 from his season average, which for a blowout is basically meeting expectations.
But it does mean the next time you're thinking about stashing a lottery pick or a deep bench guy, remember that the Knicks' willingness to use their whole roster in wins is part of why they're dominating. If you have bench spots to play with, consider adding depth over homering on one guy's ceiling.
Bottom Line
If you started Brunson, you're flying high. If you started the Celtics bench, you got punched in the mouth. That's February basketball. The Knicks are legit. The Celtics have questions when their role players go cold.
For your teams this week, the move is simple: ride your studs, don't panic on one bad game, and keep an eye on whether Alvarado keeps getting real minutes or if this was just a one-night thing.