NBA Playoffs: New York KnicksEdge Past Celtics in Game 2, Claiming 2-0 Series Lead Behind Hart's 23 Points
GAME 2 KNICKS EDGE CELTICS IN THRILLING FINISH
In a nail-biting Eastern Conference semifinal showdown, Jalen Brunson's late-game heroics propelled the New York Knicks to a 91-90 victory over the Boston Celtics, capturing a 2-0 series lead.
With just 12.7 seconds remaining, Brunson sent the crowd into a frenzy as he sunk two clutch free throws, securing the Knicks' second consecutive win. The Celtics had one final opportunity to respond, but Mikal Bridges snatched the ball from Jayson Tatum, preventing a potential game-tying drive and setting the final buzzer to echo in Knicks' favor.
Josh Hart powered the Knicks' offense with a game-high 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns piled up 21 points and a game-best 17 rebounds. Bridges furnished an impressive 14 points, all scored in the heated fourth quarter.
Following the intense final seconds, a satisfied Brunson commented, "I just blocked out the noise and came through when it mattered most."
Coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team's resilience, acknowledging, "Our players stepped up when their best was needed. We fought back from a large deficit and made some critical plays down the stretch."
Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scored 20 points for the Celtics. Post-game, Boston coach Joe Mazzulla conceded, "They made the plays necessary to win. We set ourselves up to do that but fell short in the end. We'll regroup, learn from this, and give it our all in Game 3."
As the series heads to New York for Game 3 on Saturday, the Knicks are poised to deliver another strong performance, hoping to further extend their series lead.
The Knicks took their first lead on a Brunson layup with 1:59 left to play, sparking a 21-2 scoring run that culminated in a three-point advantage. Despite a late surge by Tatum, who scored 13 points but hauled in a team-high 14 rebounds, the Celtics couldn't reclaim the lead.
With Boston taking an initial 90-89 lead on a Tatum dunk with 18.5 seconds left, Brunson remained unfazed as he drained the ensuing free throws. The Knicks held on to win, demonstrating their ability to shake off adversity and close out games.
Bonus Fact:
Did you know that the Knicks set a franchise record for the highest-scoring quarter in a playoff game, dropping 45 points in the opening frame against the Celtics[2]?
In light of their tense victory over the Boston Celtics, discussions regarding sports-analysis are intensifying, with analysts praising the Knicks' resilience. Meanwhile, the political landscape may see a shift in the power dynamics of the NBA as the Knicks' dominant performance potentially has far-reaching implications. It's interesting to note that following their game-winning performance, Jalen Brunson mentioned being inspired to stay focused despite the noise, drawing comparison between his approach and the determination often required in war.
