After a difficult season-opening loss against the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics rebounded with a nice 107-103 win over the world champion New York Knicks on Friday night at TD Garden.

With the win, the Celtics are now 1-1 on the season.

Here's what you need to know from the victory.

1) Jayson Tatum steps up big, and addresses Jaylen Brown 

After going 6-of-23 from the floor on Tuesday, Tatum did his part by scoring 36 points on 14-of-26 shooting. He still struggled from the three-point line, going just 3-of-10, but he added nine rebounds and seven assists. This team needs him to be a star if its going to accomplish what it wants to this season and this was a great rebound performance for him.

And yes, he spoke after the game about the recent comments from Jaylen Brown. Tatum continues to take the high road on things as he has all offseason.

2) Big men were better

In the loss against the Pistons, the group of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson and Luka Garza had just nine points and nine rebounds.

This time around? 27 points and 11 rebounds. The C's were still out-rebounded by seven, so this group has to hit the glass better, but the scoring production was much closer to what the organization has paid for.

Queta led the way with 15 points and six rebounds while Robinson had four points and four rebounds. Garza had eight points in just four minutes, hitting two 3-pointers.

Robinson started yet again, and it wasn't second straight underwhelming statistical game. It will be curious to see what exactly the Celtics want from him as a starter, and if they view these performances as "enough."

It's a long season. Robinson will make his mark. It's just a question of if he'll continue to be in the starting lineup with numbers like this.

3) Supporting cast needs a little more

Look, Queta was excellent off the bench, but the others around Tatum need to step up their scoring too. Paul George had 15 on 6-of-15 shooting, but Derrick White had just 12 and Payton Pritchard had just four in 30 minutes of action. Queta was the only bench player in double-figures.

Pritchard will also be better. There's no question about that.

Up next

The Celtics will be back at it again on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls.