Unforgivable Slip-ups: Title Contenders Boston Struggle to Hold Onto Commanding Leads in NBA Games

Rewritten Article:

Boy, oh boy! The Celtics are in a pickle after dropping two games against the Knicks, a team they stomped four times during the regular season. Game one's loss was a tough pill to swallow, but Wednesday's near-repeat debacle was simply unacceptable.

"Missed lay-ups, missed free throws, and missed threes—it's a recipe for disaster," grumbled Jaylen Brown. "But we're not gonna roll over and play dead. We'll bounce back, learn from our mistakes, and show them what we're made of."

Remember, the Celtics were unstoppable last year during the playoffs, racking up 16 wins and storming their way to their club's unprecedented 18th NBA title[1].

However, it's starting to feel like their luck's run out. In the past two games, they've missed 45 shots from beyond the arc and have a pathetic 30.8% success rate from the field[1].

Jayson Tatum, usually reliable, is struggling. He's barely managing 29% from the field and a horrifying 29% from three-point range, finishing game two with a woeful 12-for-42 record[1].

"It's all on me—I can't sugarcoat it," Tatum admitted. "I swallow my pride and own up to the fact that I've been playing like hot garbage. I need to step up my game, plain and simple."

With tickets for Saturday's game at Madison Square Garden inflating like the stock market during a bull run, it's clear Knicks fans are confident[2]. Cheap seats are surging past $600, and courtside seats are fetching upwards of $40k[2].

But the Celtics have the credentials to turn this around. They've proved they can win on the road—their impressive 33-8 record this season speaks volumes[1].

"In a way, it takes the pressure off us," mused center Kristaps Porzingis. "The odds are in the Knicks' favor now, but let's not forget we've been in tougher situations before. We've got nothing to lose, so let's show 'em what we can do."

Tatum echoed Porzingis' sentiments. "Our season's not on the line just yet," he said. "We've got a game on Saturday that should be one for the ages. If you're a competitor, you should be chomping at the bit for this matchup."

So here's to hoping the Celtics can turn things around, because we all know there's nothing more exciting than a good old-fashioned comeback story[2].

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Current Series Record

The New York Knicks are currently leading the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Boston Celtics with a 2-0 advantage. They achieved this by winning the first two games on the road at TD Garden, overcoming significant 20-point deficits in both games[1][3].

Potential for Boston Celtics Comeback

The Boston Celtics face a challenging task in overcoming this 0-2 deficit. However, recent NBA playoff history suggests such comebacks are plausible. In each of the last four postseasons, at least one team has recovered from an initial 0-2 series deficit to win the series. Notably, two teams have achieved this after losing the first two games at home—specifically, the 2017 Celtics against the Bulls and the 2021 Clippers against the Mavericks[2].

In total, 34 teams in league history have managed to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Therefore, while the task is difficult, it is not insurmountable for the Celtics[2].

The Celtics, who have been impressive on the road this season with a 33-8 record, must work hard to overcome their current 2-0 deficit against the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jayson Tatum, despite his struggles, admitted his poor performance and promised to step up his game, acknowledging that he's been playing like hot garbage.
The Celtics have a history of impressive comebacks, with at least one team in the last four postseasons recovering from an initial 0-2 series deficit to win the series.
In attempt to turn things around, the Celtics will face a confident Knicks squad on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, with ticket prices inflating as a reflection of the high anticipation for the game.