After New York stole Recreation 1 in Boston, many analysts predicted the Celtics would even the collection. With roughly 14 minutes left in Recreation 2, the Celtics had a 73-53 lead.
Nevertheless, the Knicks saved battling, and the Celtics went chilly on the worst time attainable. They solely scored one subject objective within the ultimate eight minutes of Recreation 2. Finally, the Knicks had been inside putting distance and stole the lead from Boston late within the fourth. On the sport’s ultimate possession, Jayson Tatum had the prospect to win for the Celtics. New York’s protection stood tall. Tatum misplaced his dribble and didn’t get a shot try off. The Knicks now have a 2-0 collection lead vs. the reigning NBA champs.
What went fallacious for the Celtics in Recreation 2?
TRENDING: The Celtics’ odds to win the Jap Convention have fallen off a CLIFF after happening 0-2.
Can Tatum and co flip it round within the Backyard? Through @PolymarketSport. https://t.co/9NzsqmDMqY
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) Could 8, 2025
The similarities between Video games 1 and a couple of between the Knicks and Celtics are strikingly comparable. On Tuesday evening in Recreation 1, Boston shot 15-60, or 25% from past the arc. For Recreation 2, they had been 10-40 from deep. Once more, capturing 25% from distance. The Celtics’ identification within the common season was to take and make a excessive quantity of three-pointers. This labored throughout the common season and within the first spherical.
In two video games vs. the Knicks within the convention semi-finals, the Celtics have misplaced their three-point contact. They’re mixed 25-100 from past the arc in Video games 1 and a couple of. With roughly 14 minutes left in Recreation 2, the Celtics had a 20-point lead. Nevertheless, they knew that lead was not protected after the way in which Recreation 1 ended. The Knicks saved clawing their means again into the sport and ultimately tied the sport late within the fourth quarter.
New York completed the sport on a 23-6 run, and the Celtics went ice chilly. Payton Pritchard hit a three-pointer with 8:40 left within the fourth. That gave the Celtics an 84-68 lead. Boston didn’t rating one other subject objective till Jayson Tatum’s dunk with lower than 20 seconds left. That’s not a recipe for successful a playoff basketball recreation. Can the Celtics reply after the Knicks have taken a commanding 2-0 collection lead heading again to New York?