The New York Knicks stunned the Boston Celtics on Thursday night (May 7) with a thrilling 91-90 comeback victory, taking a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. For the second straight game, the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit, becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to do so in consecutive games.
Trailing for most of the night, the Knicks exploded with a 38-17 run to close the game, capitalizing on Boston’s shooting woes. The Celtics went ice-cold from deep in the fourth quarter, hitting just 2-of-15 three-point attempts—eerily similar to their Game 1 collapse, where they set a record with 45 missed threes.
Clutch Performances Seal the Win
Jalen Brunson, despite struggling through much of the game, delivered when it mattered most—scoring nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges, who had been held scoreless through three quarters, erupted with 14 points in the final frame. He also made the game’s defining defensive play, blocking Jayson Tatum’s last-second shot attempt to preserve the win.
Josh Hart led New York with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added a dominant double-double of 21 points and 17 rebounds. Bridges chipped in with eight boards and five assists alongside his fourth-quarter heroics.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s relentless effort after the game, saying,
“People always talk about offensive runs, but teams go on defensive runs as well. Rebounding runs.”
Celtics Falter Again from Deep
Boston once again struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc, finishing just 10-of-40 on three-pointers. Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scored 20 points, while Jayson Tatum added 13 points and 14 rebounds but was unable to deliver in crunch time.
As the series now heads to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday, the Knicks have the momentum—and history—on their side. One more victory could put them firmly in control and on the verge of a shocking series upset.
