Tatum delivers as Celtics down winless Knicks

Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to a 107-103 victory over the New York Knicks, giving the NBA champions their first win of the season on Friday. The six-time NBA All-Star, who returned to full fitness after missing most of last season with a ruptured Achilles, scored 36 points in a mesmerizing performance at the TD Garden. Tatum shot 14-of-26 from the field, including three three-pointers, and added nine rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

His breakout fourth-quarter performance solidified the Celtics' win, as the Knicks trailed by as many as 12 points early in the final frame. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum's all-around play, describing it as "a really well-balanced game from JT on both ends." The Knicks were supported by Paul George and Neemius Queta, who each finished with 15 points.

The Knicks' leading scorer, Karl-Anthony Towns, contributed 22 points, while OG Anunoby and Miles McBride added 20 points each. In other games on Friday, the Minnesota Timberwolves remained unbeaten with a 115-93 win over the Orlando Magic, while the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors both moved to 2-0 with wins over the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, respectively.

Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving led the Dallas Mavericks to a 121-105 victory over the Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks fell to their first loss of the season, 132-125, against the Chicago Bulls.