BOSTON — The Knicks are still alive for No. 2.
Beating the NBA’s best was a breeze for surging New York, which trampled the sleepwalking Celtics in Beantown, 118-109, behind 39 points from — who else? — Jalen Brunson.
The win, which included a 31-point lead in the third quarter, represented a third in a row for the Knicks (48-32) and fifth in six games.
They created a cushion around the East’s third spot — the Knicks are now up a game on the Cavaliers while holding the tiebreaker — and are just one behind the Bucks for second with two to play.
Since the Bucks own the tiebreaker, the Knicks would have to win out (against the Nets and Bulls) while Milwaukee drops its final two (at the Thunder and Magic).
Anything seems possible now with Brunson in Jordan mode and Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the remainder of the regular season with a calf strain.
