Knicks maintain 2-0 lead against Celtics in ongoing series
In a nail-biting turn of events, the New York Knicks shocked the hosting and defending champions, the Boston Celtics, with a 91-90 win in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. This victory now gives the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Knicks' triumph, coming off a 20-point comeback, makes them the sole team in play-by-play era history (since 1998) to achieve two 20-point comebacks in the same playoff series. Their resilient second-half run wiped out the Celtics' massive lead [3].
In the closing moments, the Knicks embarked on a 21-2 run, as the Celtics missed 12 consecutive shots and were scoreless for over eight minutes. This prolonged drought allowed the Knicks to seize the advantage and hold onto their lead until the end [2][1].
Key contributions came from Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges in the later stages. Bridges scored an impressive 14 points in the final quarter, while Brunson made crucial plays late, including a game-changing layup during the run [1][2].
The Celtics' stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, struggled with their shots (Tatum 4 of 17, Brown 8 of 21) and Tatum committed a crucial turnover and missed a chance for a final shot [1][2]. The Knicks also dominated on defense, outplaying the Celtics on critical rebounds and limiting second-chance opportunities [2].
This win not only sets the Knicks up nicely in the series but also cements their status in NBA lore for their astonishing back-to-back playoff comebacks [3][1].
Points for each team:
New York (91)- Hart 23, Towns 21, Brunson 17, Bridges 14, Robinson 6, McBride 5, Anunoby 5.Boston (90)- Brown 20, White 20, Tatum 13, Holiday 10, Pritchard 9, Porzingis 8, Komet 6, Horford 4.[Source: Wires]
The Knicks' victory over the Celtics, marked by a 20-point comeback and a 21-2 late run, makes them a historic team in the play-by-play era with two 20-point comebacks in a single playoff series [3]. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges were key contributors, with Bridges scoring 14 points in the final quarter and Brunson making crucial plays including a game-changing layup [1][2]. This win not only gives the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but also cements their status in NBA lore [3][1]. The Knicks outperformed the Celtics on both offense and defense, particularly in crucial rebounds and limiting second-chance opportunities [2]. The final scores were 91-90, with Hart leading the Knicks with 23 points and Brown leading the Celtics with 20 points [Source: Wires].
