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Celtics blow another big NBA Playoff lead at home to Knicks
AP • May 8th, 2025 2:30 pm
Photo: AP
Mikal Bridges scored all of his 14 points in the fourth quarter before making his second straight game-clinching steal, and New York have overcome a 20-point deficit again to beat Boston for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Jalen Brunson scored 17 points for the Knicks and made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum then couldn't get to the rim and Bridges moved in to bat the ball away and recover it.
Josh Hart had 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds for New York, who will host Game 3 on Saturday.
Jaylen Brown and Derrick White scored 20 points apiece for the Celtics, who were 10 for 40 from three-point range after going 15 for 60 in Game 1.
Jalen Brunson shoots a three over fellow guard Derrick White | Photo: AP
Tatum was limited to 13 points on 5-for-19 shooting for the hosts, who went more than eight minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter.
The Knicks took the opener when Bridges stole the ball away from Brown with a second left in overtime, and all eyes were on Boston's offence again after they missed an NBA-record 45 threes in their opening loss.
Despite their shooting struggles, they found some traction late in the third quarter, using a 16-6 run to turn a 10-point lead into a 73-53 advantage late in the period.
It was 84-68 after Payton Pritchard's triple with 8:40 to play but the Celtics wouldn't make another basket until Tatum's driving dunk with 18.5 seconds remaining.
New York cut it to 86-82 on a floater by Hart before Towns' three-point play and Brunson's 18-footer put the visitors in front.
Trailing 89-88, Tatum drove easily past Mitchell Robinson for a dunk to put the Celtics back in the lead.
But Brunson again responded. He was fouled and connected on both free throws.
Teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven series on the road win the series 85.7 per cent of the time.
