Celtics guard Derrick White (left) tries to take a charge while defending Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half.
Celtics guard Derrick White (left) tries to take a charge while defending Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during the first half.Heather Khalifa/Associated Press
NEW YORK — The Celtics on Friday returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since their season came to a crashing end here in the conference semifinals on May 16.
But the buzz from those days is gone, at least for now. In this game, Boston was the plucky team trying to pull off an upset, much like the Knicks were last spring.
For much of the night, the talent gap appeared clear. The Knicks throttled the Celtics with a dominant second quarter, and although the Celtics gradually chipped away in the second half, the early 24-point deficit proved to be a bit too much, as New York held on for a 105-95 win.
During the second quarter in which the Knicks outscored the Celtics, 42-14, New York went on 11-0, 17-0, and 12-0 runs, an unfathomable trio.
That surge aside, Boston’s defense actually held up. The Knicks shot just 38.4 percent from the field and committed 20 turnovers. But New York’s 21-7 edge in second-chance points and 22-10 advantage in made free throws were the difference.
Jaylen Brown had 23 points to lead Boston (0-2), but he committed seven turnovers. Jalen Brunson scored a game-high 31 points for New York (2-0).
The play of rookie Hugo González was at least one bright spot for the Celtics. He played extensively in the second half and helped Boston linger thanks to his aggressive and pestering ball pressure that made simple plays a chore for the Knicks. It was at least something to build on.
The Celtics pulled within nine late in the fourth, but their gradual comeback never became overly concerning for the Knicks.
The Celtics took a 6-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Sam Hauser followed by a 3-point play by Neemias Queta. Boston committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions, though, a harbinger for the rest of the half.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla continued to lean into his bench. He went with a full five-man shift midway through the first quarter, with González getting an early look. He completed a nifty lefthanded layup, but the group’s offense was otherwise clunky during its brief stint, with Anfernee Simons dribbling deep into the shot clock on multiple possessions.
Still, the Celtics pushed to a 30-22 lead after one quarter, thanks in large part to the fact that Knicks other than Karl-Anthony Towns started 0 for 9 from the 3-point line. But those struggles did not last. Instead, New York walloped Boston with one of the most dominant quarters imaginable.
The Knicks needed just 93 seconds to wipe away that deficit, and it eventually turned into an 11-0 run that gave them the lead.
The Celtics briefly steadied themselves with consecutive 3-pointers by Hauser and White. But the Knicks were unbothered.
New York unfurled a 17-0 run that was ignited by its bench. The Knicks were quicker to the ball, quicker to the rim, and quicker just about everywhere else.
A driving 3-point play by Brunson capped the flurry and gave New York a 50-36 lead, its largest to that point. The surge ended, mercifully, thanks to a defensive three seconds technical foul.
But the Knicks were not done. Leading 52-44, they closed the half with the 12-0 burst highlighted by a Towns steal and 3-point play on a layup.
When the dust settled, the Knicks had outscored the Celtics in the quarter, 42-14. They had seven offensive rebounds, a 12-0 edge in second-chance points, and went 12 for 12 from the foul line.
The Celtics started the third quarter with a bit more energy, along with some more accurate shooting. A deep 3-pointer from the top of the key by Hauser capped an 8-0 run and sliced the deficit to 64-52 and led to a Knicks timeout.
In past seasons, a flurry such as that one might have ignited a substantial comeback. But this team simply might not have the necessary weapons. It did not help that they were playing against one of the best teams in the NBA, of course.
The Knicks quickly stretched the lead back to 20, and maintained their edge with an active, harassing defense. Miles McBride smothered Simons in the backcourt and forced a turnover. Brown lost the ball on one play and stepped out of bounds on another.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.