Brunson scores 39 points, Knicks beat Celtics 118-109

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson ( No, 11) takes a three-point shot with pressure from Jrue Holiday (4) in the second quarter at TD Garden.BOSTON (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 39 points in three quarters and the New York Knicks kept up their quest to finish with the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Boston Celtics 118-109 on Thursday night.

One day after clinching a playoff spot, the Knicks pulled within a game of the Milwaukee Bucks for second, with each team having two games remaining. New York would have to win both and have the Bucks lose their games at Oklahoma City and Orlando, because Milwaukee has the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Brunson shot 15 of 23 from the field and 6 of 11…