Deja Blue: Knicks, Mikal Bridges Stage Another Comeback vs. Celtics

Shockingly sweeping an opening couple of Eastern Conference semifinal games at TD Garden proved to be anything but a bridge too far for Mikal Bridges and the New York Knicks.

A fantastic fourth from Bridges paved the way to another thrilling metropolitan comeback, as the Knicks earned a 91-90 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in Beantown. New York once again erased a 20-point deficit en route to victory, giving them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set.

May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) defends against Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) in the last seconds of the fourth quarter during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Held scoreless over the first 36 minutes, Bridges broke loose for 14 points in the final period while Jalen Brunson overcame early struggles to once again live up to his clutch billing. It was a pair of Brunson free throws that gave New York a permanent lead with just over 12 seconds remaining before Bridges' rejection/interception of Jayson Tatum sealed the deal and helped road teams remain undefeated in the ongoing conference semifinal round of the NBA Playoffs.

During a 23-6 run over the final 8:40 of game play, the Knicks allowed to hit but one shot from the field, a Tatum dunk with 18.5 seconds left on the clock, one that only briefly stifled Manhattan momentum. Brunson went to the line after he was fouled by Jrue Holiday to steal the late lead back and set the stage for another clutch defensive play for Bridges.

Josh Hart led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 9-of-15 to help keep the rollercoaster Knicks offense afloat. Karl-Anthony Towns was happy to assist, putting up a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double.

Another heartstopper places the Knicks in a unique tier of NBA history: at six consecutive one-possession final scores, the Knicks have tied a postseason record set by the Celtics group that won the 1981 championship.

The first quarter hardly hinted at the euphoria to come, as the Knicks scored but 13 points, the lowest any team had put up in an NBA postseason's opening period since 2003 (Orlando, 1st round). New York somewhat recovered in the second period with a two-point win but Boston always seem to have a run, if not a timely yet fleeting three-pointer, to stifle the push. That trend continued in the third, as Boston took its seemingly trademark double-decade lead, though late triples from Hart and Miles McBride late in the period narrowed the gap to a dozen.

But the Knicks began to work their magic in the fourth, forcing the Celtics in to desperate launches from deep and uncomfortable, contested scenarios in the mid-range. A Brunson fadeaway as the penultimate minute tipped off gave the Knicks their first lead of the night and officially silenced the TD Garden crowd. Another drive from Brunson made it a three-pointer game before Tatum forced the brief lead prior to Bridges' final shutdown.

It was another brutal night from deep for the defending champions: Boston's three-point shooting has been historic for all the wrong reasons, as they were 10-of-40 on Wednesday night, missing each of their final seven after Payton Pritchard put them up 16 at the aforementioned 8:40 mark. Combined with the 45 misfires in Game 1, the 75 missed three-pointers are the most in a two-game span in NBA postseason history.

May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first quarter during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White led the way with 20 points each for the Celtics.

The stage is thus set for absolute bedlam on Saturday afternoon, when Madison Square Garden will get to see a chance to see the Knicks potentially take a commanding 3-0 series lead (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

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