Jalen Brunson Guides Knicks to Game 1 Comeback vs Celtics

The New York Knicks will never forget their first ... win over the Boston Celtics this season.

More clutch antics from Jalen Brunson provided the necessary push to finally get through the Boston barrier at TD Garden: the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit to earn a 108-105 overtime triumph over the defending champion Celtics in the opening game of the regional rivals' Eastern Conference semifinal set. Brunson and OG Anunoby scored 29 points each, with Brunson putting in 11 alone during a thrilling final period before Mikal Bridges put forth sterling heroics in a brief fifth session.

Game 1 was yet another clutch showing for the Knicks: New York has played five consecutive playoff games decided by three points or less, becoming the second team in NBA history to do in a single postseason tournament (joining the Celtics' championship group from 1981).

Spurred on by Boston's perfect, four-game mark against the Knicks in the regular season, some experts foresaw the Celtics prevailing in a sweep. Those predictions seemed on point when, after 15 lead changes and eight ties, the Celtics ended the period on a 13-3 run over the final four-plus minutes.

Boston used both forms of foul trouble in building its early lead in the midst of struggles from deep, as they missed all but five of their first 23 tries with an extra point on the line.

Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns each picked up three early charges (with Towns forced to sit out the last last nine minutes of the opening 24) and the Celtics hit 16 of the subsequent 20 tries from the charity stripe.

With Towns forced to take a seat, the Knicks placed Mitchell Robinson into the game and the Celtics immediately harassed him and put him on the foul line, where he sank just 2-of-8. Such issues forced New York to place Precious Achiuwa into the game after he sat for the entire opening round set against Detroit.

The second half began equally auspiciously: Boston built its aforementioned largest lead at 20 amidst a few misfires from Towns, who was also responsible for three turnovers, including an offensive foul , within the first five minutes. The Celtics seemed to have a response for every Knick rally, as they hit seven triples in the third period. An Al Horford dunk created the double decade lead and rendered Boston's Garden hysterical.

May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

But once Hart sank a three-pointer with 6:03 remaining, the Knicks' comeback began in earnest: all but one of the Knicks' 23 tallies to close out the third were scored by either Anunoby, Brunson, or Hart as they whittled the lead down to six by the final half-minute. Horford sank a three with six seconds left but the tide had officially turned blue.

The top half of the fourth quarter featured several false starts, culminating in an 89-all tie when Brunson hit a three just past the midway mark. The NBA's newly-crowned Clutch Player of the Year finally gave the Knicks the long-sought lead with a three-pointer at 4:07 in the fourth. He then made it a six-point advantage with another triple, silencing the shellshocked Boston crowd yearning for the return of the regular season.

It didn't take Boston long to gain the lead back (Derrick White sank the necessary three with 2:18 left) but after several defensive stops, Anunoby placed the Knicks in triple digits with yet another deep ball. A Jrue Holiday driving layup early in the last minute proved to be the final scoring of regulation, as both sides missed out on an opportunity for an early win. Brunson had a brilliant opportunity on the Knicks last possession, but his driving bank attempt went in-and-out in the penultimate second.

Surprisingly, Brunson was kept off the board in four attempts during the fourth quarter but Anunoby and Bridges and handled the rest: Bridges' defense forced a 24-second violation on Boston's first overtime possession and Anunoby opened scoring at 3:25 with an emphatic dunk that earned a successful free throw on a Jayson Tatum foul. Bridges then hit another three to re-establish the six-point lead, putting Boston in desperation mode.

A Jaylen Brown three in the penultinate minute created what would become the final margin before defense ruled the day. When the Knicks gave their last foul with three seconds left, Bridges intercepted the inbound intended for Brown, allowing the New York celebration to finally commence.

May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives the ball against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the first quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Bridges lived up to his reputation as the NBA's iron man by playing 51 minutes while Hart (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Towns (14 points, 13 rebounds) landed double-doubles despite their early foul trouble. Miles McBride tallied 11 points off the bench in relief.

With the loss, Boston is trailing in a postseason series for the first time since they dropped the 2023 conference final to Miami. Brown and Tatum each led the green way with 23 points but shot 5-of-25 from three-point range after engaging in record-setting duties from deep earlier this season. The Celtics set an NBA playoff record with 60 three-point tries (previously set by the 2020 Houston Rockets at 58) but missed 45 of them.

The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 lead in the series on Wednesday night in Beantown (7 p.m. ET, TNT).

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