Boston Celtics thunder in incredible 12-point streak to chastise New York Knicks during Game 4
Ready to dive into the thrilling NBA action? Let's talk about Game 4 of the 2025 East Semis between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks during the NBA Playoffs.
The Celtics kicked off the game like a well-oiled machine, racking up an impressive 39 points in the first quarter, leading 39-28. This blazing start culminated in a breathtaking 12-0 run in the final 90 seconds of the quarter, powered by Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard. Tatum, in particular, fired in three 3-pointers, demonstrating an electrifying start to the game with a total of 15 points.
The First-half Dominance
Jayson Tatum continued to light up the scoreboard, leading the Celtics to a 62-51 advantage over the Knicks as they headed into halftime.
Unfortunately, Jayson Tatum's game ended prematurely due to an injury in the second half, while OG Anunoby, too, seemed to have suffered a hamstring injury[1]. Despite these setbacks, other Celtics players held their own, with players like Marcus Smart and Al Horford stepping up to keep the momentum going.
The Celtics prioritize being smart with their shot selection, having learned from their mistakes in earlier games[4]. In the first half of Game 4, they made 54.1% of their total shots, including a remarkable 50% from three. Tatum himself shot 8-of-13 from the field, equally impressive from downtown with 4-of-7. Players like Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown also had standout performances, contributing significantly to the team's scoring.
The Celtics know that they can't afford to drop another game in this series. Currently trailing 2-1[3], a win in Game 4 is crucial to even the series and bring the momentum back their way.
After Game 4, the Celtics will return home to host Game 5 against the Knicks. The matchup takes place on May 14 at 7 p.m.[5] It's time for the Celtics to dig deep, show resilience, and rally their troops for a must-win game.
[1] https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35077589[2] https://www.si.com/nba/boston-celtics/news/celtics-knicks-game-4-recap-jayson-tatum-injury[3] https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-2025-knicks-take-3-1-series-lead-over-celtics-after-game-4-victory/[4] https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10041907-nba-playoffs-2025-celtics-still-struggling-with-shot-selection-in-series-vs-knicks[5] https://www.nba.com/game/20250514/BOSNYK/preview
Jayson Tatum's remarkable performance in the first half of Game 4, with 15 points in the first quarter alone, helped the Boston Celtics build a 11-point lead over the New York Knicks during the NBA Playoffs, setting the stage for an intense series. However, Tatum's game was disrupted by an injury in the second half, leaving the outcome of the playoffs uncertain and the Celtics needing to rely on the efforts of Marcus Smart, Al Horford, and others to maintain their momentum.
