Brooklyn-born guard Jose Alvarado made his Knicks debut in Boston, and it was a memorable one. Midway through the fourth quarter, Alvarado let fly with a three-pointer from the corner, right in front of the Celtics' bench. While it missed, the players on the bench let him know it. But Alvarado didn't sulk; he did what he's known for - sneaking up behind Jaylen Brown and poking the ball free for a layup. He then turned to the Celtics' bench and let them know, too. Alvarado's arrival in a trade deadline deal felt like an emotional return to his hometown team, but more than that, he brought the Knicks what they desperately needed on the court - an infusion of defense, toughness, and energy. With one walk-through, Alvarado contributed 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, a block, and six deflections in 25:04, pestering Payton Pritchard and Brown all over the court in the Knicks' 111-89 win on Sunday. Even before the backcourt steal, he raced out to pick up Brown on the final possession of the third quarter, stripping him in the lane and flexing to the Knicks' bench. Alvarado's impact was immediate and significant, and it's clear why teammates and fans enjoy watching him play. Sunday featured some emotion for him, even as his Knicks debut came at TD Garden rather than Madison Square Garden. 'It's crazy,' he said. 'But I just feel like it was meant to be. It feels like I've been part of it for a while, even though it was the first game. Like it felt like nothing. It felt like home. It felt like it was supposed to happen this way, and I'm glad it did.' Alvarado, a 27-year-old undrafted player, established himself as a defensive pest in five seasons with the Pelicans. He's also a point guard who can help relieve the pressure on Jalen Brunson. Asked how many calls he's gotten since the trade, he said, 'Too many. But like I said, this is a blessing. I'm from here. My family never left the city. To be in that atmosphere, I mean, they've been Knicks fans since before me. To be with a team that's trying to contend for something and me be a part of it is pretty special.' Steve Popper, who covers the Knicks for Newsday, has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
