Knicks use more second-half magic to beat Celtics…
The Knicks may not be making it simple on themselves, but it’s largely working.
It sounded a little like 1999 inside Madison Square Garden Monday evening.
The closely favored opponent couldn’t maintain a lead. The home group refused to give in, even as it trailed massive early in the third quarter.
And now, after one other come-from-behind win in a postseason full of them, the Knicks and their followers can begin to actually dream massive.
For the third time in this collection, they eradicated a massive second-half Celtics lead, and this time they did it in entrance of their followers, rallying from 14 down to take a commanding 3-1 collection lead with a 121-113 victory in Game 4.
Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson took turns sticking daggers in the Celtics, and the Knicks have been dominant over the final quarter and a half, outscoring Boston by 22 factors in the ultimate 20:47.
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks handles the ball during the sport against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 4 on May 12, 2025 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
Chants of “Knicks in Five” echoed all through the building in the ultimate seconds. Making issues worse for the Celtics, celebrity Jayson Tatum was misplaced to a noncontact proper ankle harm late in the fourth quarter. Tatum was writhing in ache on the Garden ground and was helped off. He was later proven in the tunnel in a wheelchair.
Tied at 102 with 6:12 left in the fourth quarter, the Knicks ripped off a 14-2 run to ice it. Brunson and Bridges, the 2 Villanova teammates, scored 9 factors in the burst.
Brunson completed with 39 factors and 12 assists, Bridges added 23 (10 in the fourth) and Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 factors and 11 rebounds. OG Anunoby broke out of his latest scoring stoop with 20 factors. Tatum poured in 42 factors and seven 3-pointers for the Celtics in defeat.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White defends against New York Knicks ahead Mikal Bridges during the first quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Knicks can advance to their first Eastern Conference closing in 25 years with a win Wednesday evening at TD Garden.
The Knicks have been unable to snap out of their first quarter woes. Again, they dug themselves an early gap, 11-4 out of the gate, and 39-28 after one period. Boston closed the quarter with a 12-0 burst on a quartet of 3-pointers, three coming from Tatum.
New York Knicks middle Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is guarded by Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum (0) in the first half during Game 4 of the second spherical for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Knicks did nicely to reply Celtics runs with their own, and they have been within 5 late in the first half. However, they went the ultimate 4:22 of the second stanza without a made area objective, and trailed by 11 at the break after lacking their closing seven pictures.
Still, it may’ve been a lot worse, contemplating the Celtics shot 54.1 % from the sector, hit 12 3-pointers and the Knicks didn’t get to the free-throw line until there was 1:20 left in the half.
Brunson was the best Knick over the first 24 minutes, scoring 13 factors along with 5 assists. Towns was productive, notching 10 factors and eight rebounds, although his protection was shaky. The Celtics hunted him on that finish of the ground. Tatum, in explicit, harm Towns, and completed the half with 20 factors and six rebounds. Derrick White made his first 4 3-pointers and added 17.
New York Knicks ahead Mikal Bridges #25 reacts after hitting a shot during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Celtics pushed the lead to 14 early in the third quarter. It was beginning to really feel like Game 3. Then, Brunson caught fire. Out of a timeout, he sank a 3-pointer, then scored on a drive. It was still a double-digit distinction with 6:43 left in the period. At that level, the Knicks actually took off. They reeled off 21 of the next 29 factors, 11 coming from Brunson.
Mikal Bridges of the Knicks celebrates with Miles McBride after scoring during the second half. The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 121-113. Jason Szenes / New York Post
They had the lead going into the fourth quarter. When Bridges scored on consecutive possessions to start the ultimate period, the Knicks have been up 5 and the Garden was on fire.
It would grow louder the later this sport went. The Knicks lead saved growing, and so did the probability of an sudden collection victory.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 places up a three-point shot after he fakes out Boston Celtics guard Derrick White #9 during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
With yet one other second-half rally after trailing by 11 at the half, the Knicks beat the Celtics 121-113 in Game 4 on Monday evening at Madison Square Garden to take a 3-1 lead in the second-round collection.
Jalen Brunson stole the show with a 39-point efficiency while Mikal Bridges chipped in 23.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Boston.
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