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Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson expectedly fell short Thursday in final voting for the NBA All-Star Game despite placing in the top 10 at their respective positions.
Randle, who finished ninth among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, and Brunson, listed at No. 10 in the backcourt, then reemphasized their respective cases for inclusion as reserves against the team with the best record in the league.
Randle scored 14 points in the first quarter and 14 more in the third in a 37-point effort overall — and Brunson netted 29 with seven assists and a game-saving blocked shot — as the Knicks overcame yet another blown double-digit lead by pulling out a gritty 120-117 overtime win over the NBA-leading Celtics at TD Garden.
RJ Barrett finished with 19 points — including two game-sealing free throws in the final seconds — and Immanuel Quickley contributed 17 off the bench as Tom Thibodeau’s squad improved to 15-10 away from Madison Square Garden for the third-most road wins in the NBA behind the Celtics (17) and the Nets (16).
Elected All-Star starter Jayson Tatum scored 35 points, but Jaylen Brown (22) missed two key free throws late in overtime for the Celtics (35-15), who played without starting point guard Marcus Smart.
Obi Toppin’s 3-pointer and two free throws by Miles McBride pushed the Knicks’ lead to 13 with eight minutes remaining, but the Celtics clawed back within two on Malcolm Brodgon’s 3-pointer with 1:58 to go in regulation.
