New York Knicks Stun Boston Celtics with Another Epic Comeback

The New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a thrilling 91-90 win over the Boston Celtics, overcoming another 20-point deficit behind Jalen Brunson's clutch free throws and Mikal Bridges' game-sealing steal.

The New York Knicks pulled off an incredible feat again, overcoming a 20-point deficit for the second straight game to defeat the Boston Celtics 91-90 and take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-final playoff series. This remarkable comeback capped off an intense matchup, with the Knicks proving resilient despite facing significant deficits.

Mikal Bridges was instrumental in the fourth quarter, scoring all 14 of his points and making a crucial steal as Jayson Tatum attempted a potential game-winning basket in the final seconds. Bridges' defensive prowess, alongside OG Anunoby's support, allowed the Knicks to secure the win. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 21 points and 17 rebounds. Jalen Brunson added 17 points, scoring nine in the fourth quarter, and made two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win after being fouled by Jrue Holiday.

The Celtics, despite their strong start, struggled to maintain momentum. Jaylen Brown scored 20 points, but Jayson Tatum underperformed with 13 points on 5-for-19 shooting. The team's offense stagnated in the fourth quarter, managing only one basket in over six minutes. Kristaps Porzingis played limited minutes, scoring three points on 1-for-3 shooting. Despite their efforts, the Celtics' inability to close out the game and their poor shooting ultimately led to their downfall.

Josh Hart led the Knicks with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 17 rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 17 points and made crucial plays down the stretch.

Brunson's fadeaway jumper with 1:59 remaining gave the Knicks their first lead, 87-86. After the Celtics took the lead again, Brunson made two free throws with 4.5 seconds left to put New York up 91-90.

headed home 2-0 😤 pic.twitter.com/qeAz1wVCnz

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 8, 2025

“I'm just happy we found a way to win,” Brunson said to TNT. "/“That's some wild stuff right there.”

The Celtics had built a significant lead, 73-53, with 3:12 left in the third quarter, thanks to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White's 20 points each. However, Boston's offense stalled in the fourth quarter, with Brown scoring just three points after halftime and the team missing 14 consecutive shots.

“We put ourselves in position to do that, and we just didn't make the plays,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “That third, fourth quarter I thought we generated some good looks and then I thought we had some live ball turnovers and they took advantage of it. They made the necessary plays to win.”

The New York Knicks will host Game 3 against the Boston Celtics on Saturday, May 10, at 3:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden. Historically, teams that drop the first two games at home have struggled to recover, with only five teams successfully rallying to win an NBA playoff series after such a deficit. Given the Knicks' remarkable comebacks in Games 1 and 2, overcoming 20-point deficits in both, they'll look to continue their momentum.

DEFENSE GIVES THE KNICKS A 2-0 LEAD ✋🚫 pic.twitter.com/yJIeIu59fr

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 8, 2025

Game 3 Details:

• Date: Saturday, May 10
• Time: 3:30 PM ET
• Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• TV Broadcast: ESPN, ABC
• Live Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo, NBA League Pass

The Celtics, despite being the reigning NBA champions, have faced challenges in the series, including Kristaps Porzingis' illness and poor 3-point shooting. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, will aim to capitalize on these weaknesses and take a commanding 3-0 lead.