For the first time in a quarter-century, the New York Knicks might head to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In Games 1 and 2, the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to take a 2-0 series lead against the Boston Celtics. No other team in NBA history has come back from down 20 points in back-to-back games.
In front of a raucous Celtics crowd, down 55-75 with 5 minutes and 47 seconds to go in the third quarter, the Knicks opened the floodgates, blindsiding the home team with a 53-30 run.
In the last play of the game, Knicks forward Mikal Bridges ripped the ball out of Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s hands, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and completing the improbable comeback.
After months of receiving hate for underperforming, Bridges rose to the occasion when the Knicks needed him most. The Celtics shot 15-60 from the three-point range, setting an NBA playoff record for most missed threes. Every Celtics fan was adamant that this wouldn’t happen again. Former player and Celtics legend Paul Pierce said, “If the Celtics lose Game 2 at home, I’m walking here tomorrow, 15 miles!”
Fans hoped the terrible shooting during Game 1 was an outlier and that it wouldn’t happen again. In an eerily similar Game 2, the Celtics went ice cold from the 3-point range, shooting 10-40 or 25% again. The Knicks furiously stormed back from a 53-73 deficit to stun the Celtics not once, but twice. Bridges once again got the final stop, denying Jayson Tatum from kicking it out to Brown for a three pointer. The mighty Celtics —former champions and title favorites — collapsed under pressure.
In Game 3, the Celtics, in danger of going down 0-3, responded with a wire-to-wire victory, never trailing as they dismantled the Knicks with a barrage of three-pointers, going 20-40, doubling their output in the same number of attempts as Game 2. Knicks fans were left worried after being clobbered in Game 3, especially after barely winning the first two games.
Knicks top player had a main takeaway from the blowout loss: “We need to play with more of a sense of urgency … I just don’t think we want to be in a 20-point hole each game.” It was time to shine, but who would answer the call? In the third quarter, down 58-72, the “Brunson Burner” came alive, scoring 18 of his 39 points in those 12 minutes, allowing the Knicks to take a 3-1 series lead.
Unfortunately, in the fourth quarter, Celtics star Tatum suffered a torn right Achilles. Knicks and Celtics fans alike held their breath as he laid on the ground in pain. With this injury, the Celtics lost their top player. Although he was struggling in this series so far, his 42-point explosion was evidence of his undeniable talent and desire to win, winning the hearts of Celtics fans.
After four games, the Knicks are just one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference finals. “I was actually telling everyone to get off the court. I was like, it’s nothing to celebrate,” Brunson said. The job is not finished for the Knicks, who seem poised to make a deep playoff run.
