Knicks Secure Second Victory over Celtics due to Another Match-Deciding Theft by Mikal Bridges
New York Knicks Get a Win, Showing Determination and Resilience
The Knicks have shown they mean business this season, as evidenced by their blockbuster move in July. They traded away a stack of first-round draft picks and several players to the Brooklyn Nets to secure the services of versatile wing player Mikal Bridges. The Knicks weren't scared of the future; they were focused on the present, and they had faith that Bridges would be a cornerstone for their team.
On Wednesday night, Bridges came through in a big way, clinching a 91-90 victory for the Knicks against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Bridges, who had missed all of his first eight shots, scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, demonstrating his ability to clutch up in high-pressure situations.
In the previous game, Bridges made a steal with just a second left to secure a thrilling victory for the Knicks.
Bridges wasn't the only player who stepped up for the No. 3 seed Knicks. Another new addition, Karl-Anthony Towns, racked up 21 points and 17 rebounds. Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, Bridges' former teammates at Villanova, scored 23 points and 17 points, respectively. Center Mitchell Robinson, who came off the bench, also made valuable contributions with a +19 rating in 22 minutes, helping the Knicks on both ends of the floor.
After falling behind by 20 points in the second half, the Knicks showed remarkable resilience and fighting spirit, overcoming the deficit for the second game in a row to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals series.
The Celtics, who were the reigning NBA champions, struggled to find their shooting touch on Wednesday night, making just 10 of 40 3-point attempts (25%) and shooting 25% overall. Star players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continued their shooting struggles, with Tatum scoring 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting and Brown scoring 20 points on 8-of-23 shooting.
As the series heads to Madison Square Garden for Game 3, the Knicks find themselves in a strong position. Teams that win the first two games of a seven-game series usually have a significant advantage, and the Knicks will be confident as they return home to play in front of a boisterous crowd.
Overall, the Knicks have a very slim chance of winning the series if they trail 2-0, while the Celtics have a terrible record when trailing 2-0 in a series, with only a couple of exceptions in their history. Conversely, teams that lead 2-0, like the Knicks, often have a great opportunity to advance to the next round. But the Knicks, who haven't made it to the Conference finals since 2000, know better than most not to take anything for granted. Still, their resilient performances, especially in coming back from double-digit deficits, give them reason to be optimistic as they look to secure a spot in the Conference finals.
Mikal Bridges, the versatile wing player acquired from the Brooklyn Nets, demonstrated his demeanor in high-pressure situations when he scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, helping the New York Knicks secure a scoreless 91-90 victory against the Boston Celtics. Bridges' former teammates at Villanova, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, also contributed, scoring 23 points and 17 points, respectively. Another new addition, Karl-Anthony Towns, racked up 21 points and 17 rebounds. Even though the Celtics were the reigning NBA champions and had a 20-point lead in the second half, the Knicks displayed remarkable resilience and fighting spirit, overcoming the deficit for the second game in a row, especially given their history of falling short in significant series. As the series heads to Madison Square Garden for Game 3, the Knicks, who led 2-0, find themselves in a strong position, confident as they return home to play in front of a boisterous crowd.
