The Knicks storm Boston again and leave the Celtics on the ropes

The New York Knicks knew that the Boston Celtics would come out strong in the second game of the series after the incredible comeback on Monday, where the New Yorkers overcame a 20-point deficit and won in overtime against the reigning champion.

And indeed, Boston reacted aggressively in front of their home crowd, with a more focused and balanced game than in the first encounter, reaching another 20-point lead (73-53) with just over 14 minutes left. 

But, just like in the first match, the Knicks stiffened their defense in crucial moments and left the Celtics without a single field goal for over eight minutes in the fourth quarter. With that push, New York clinched an impressive 91-90 victory, taking a surprising 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The final play showcased the tenacity of the Knicks. Jayson Tatum tried to drive between Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby, but ended up trapped along the baseline with no options. Mikal Bridges, who had sealed the first game with a steal, once again stripped the ball from Boston's star and tossed it ahead to Jalen Brunson, who had hit the crucial free throws seconds earlier. In a defiant gesture, Brunson seemed to silence the disbelieving TD Garden crowd.

The Knicks closed the game with a 23-6 run. Many local fans remained in their seats after the final buzzer, stunned by the outcome. In contrast, Knicks supporters who had traveled to Boston were celebrating, shouting "Knicks in four!"

The first game might have seemed like an anomaly, considering the Celtics not only swept New York 4-0 in the regular season but did so convincingly. Additionally, Boston had missed 45 three-pointers, a negative NBA record, and only converted 25% of their attempts from long range. Even coach Joe Mazzulla admitted that shot selection had not been the best.

However, after the second game, it was hard to attribute it to chance. Once again, Boston squandered a 20-point lead in the second half and replicated their poor 25% three-point shooting (10 of 40). Tatum continued to struggle, scoring only 13 points after going 5 for 19.

In recent years, the Celtics had faced playoff setbacks but had always managed to bounce back. In fact, leading up to this game, they had secured four straight wins following a postseason loss. However, with the Knicks finding a way to win for the second consecutive time, the narrative appears different this time.

“We know the opportunity we have now that we are back home. We just have to stay focused,” Brunson stated after the victory.

Brunson, named Clutch Player of the Year, shone again in the closing minutes, with nine points in the final quarter, including the team's last six. However, it was Bridges who kept the Knicks afloat for much of the final period while Brunson rested. After being scoreless and missing all eight shots in the first three quarters, Bridges responded with 14 points and 6 of 10 shooting in the last stretch.

Bridges himself admitted to being trapped in his own frustration due to his poor offensive performance, but his teammates encouraged him, even shouting at him, not to give up. Cameron Payne, a Knicks reserve, acknowledged being one of the loudest voices pushing him from the bench.

Josh Hart led the team with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 17 rebounds. Brunson finished with 17.

New York's defense was crucial, especially against Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Finals MVP, who only made one of their nine shot attempts in the final quarter, combining for just four points.

Tatum's lone make in that quarter seemed destined to be the game-winner, following a high screen from Al Horford that confused the Knicks' defense and allowed him to finish with a resounding dunk that ignited TD Garden with 18 seconds left. However, after a timeout called by New York, Brunson was fouled with 12.7 seconds remaining and converted the decisive free throws.

Without calling a timeout, Mazzulla let the Celtics attempt the same play as before, but this time OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson defended it better, closing off Tatum's options, forcing him to retreat and seek another solution. That sequence encapsulated the issue Boston has faced throughout the series: Robinson's imposing defensive presence and New York's ability to close out games in pivotal moments.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Knicks vuelven a asaltar Boston y dejan a las Celtics contra las cuerdas