Bridges Delivers Again as Knicks Erase Another 20-Point Deficit to Stun Celtics for a 2-0 Lead

In a game that looked all but lost, the Knicks clawed back from a 20-point hole behind Mikal Bridges’ fourth-quarter eruption and a heroic final-possession block on Jayson Tatum to steal Game 2 in Boston.

THE KNICKS GO UP 2-0 ON THE BOSTON CELTICS

Game 2 tipped off with both teams locked in defensively, but only one could convert enough shots to show for it. And unfortunately for the Knicks, it wasn’t them.

Karl-Anthony Towns won the opening tip, but New York’s first possession ended with an OG Anunoby jumper that first appeared to beat the buzzer (or so the Knicks thought), but it was ruled too late minutes later. That missed chance set the tone for a brutal start offensively for the Knicks. The Celtics didn’t look sharp either, missing their first four three-point attempts, but Jrue Holiday found some early rhythm in the paint, scoring Boston’s first two buckets with ease.

The Knicks just could not buy a bucket. Jalen Brunson’s jumper was off, Mikal Bridges galloped into a turnover, and despite multiple clean looks, everything was all over the place for them. And to make matters worse: Anunoby, Hart, and Bridges all misfired from deep. But, there was one saving grace Knick for them: Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns fought hard and sturdy to keep them afloat, muscling in a couple of put-backs, but the Celtics began finding success with line drives and transition movement, capped by a smooth Derrick White triple.

Defensively though, the Knicks showed some life. Anunoby picked Brown’s pocket, Brunson took a key charge, and Mitchell Robinson provided a spark off the bench with a steal and a put-back slam. But the offensive woes were too heavy to ignore. The Knicks shot a painful six-of-23 from the field and just one-of-eight from three. Thankfully, Boston wasn’t lighting it up either (just three-of-10 from deep)

By the end of the first, the Celtics led 24-13, and the Knicks were in dire need of rhythm. Oh, and, buckets of course.

Now if the first quarter belonged to the Celtics' defense, the second surely started off as the Karl-Anthony Towns show (who already captured a double-double by the end of the first half). The big man came out aggressive, punishing Al Horford inside and drawing back-to-back fouls while dropping consecutive and-ones. Towns hit double digits quickly, trimming Boston’s lead to just five at 26-21, and giving the Knicks much-needed structure and momentum.

But while Towns was a force, the Knicks couldn’t take advantage fully. Missed jumpers, loose balls, and a sloppy turnover by Towns prevented a full swing. Mitchell Robinson battled on the glass, even diving for a jump ball, but Boston responded with timely shots from Kornet and Jaylen Brown. Derrick White remained a thorn in the Knicks’ side, splashing his second triple and later converting three free-throws after drawing a foul on the perimeter.

Still, the Knicks found life late in the second quarter. Anunoby nailed a corner trey in response to Brown’s deep make. Brunson, who’d struggled for most of the game so far (three-of-10 from the field), sent Holiday flying with a silky pump-fake and finally hit a three. He followed that up by assisting Hart inside, and OG finished a transition layup off a Brunson dish. That run cut the deficit down to just eight now and gave New York its first real scoring rhythm.

But Holiday ended the half with a tough and-one, and White’s third shot from way downtown made sure that Boston held the edge. Other than White, Brown also deserved an honourable mention for lighting it up this quarter.

Karl Anthony Towns Game 2 Stat Line

That being said, it wasn’t enough for New York to take the lead. Even though Towns anchored the Knicks early, OG found a rhythm late, and Brunson had his moments, defensive gaps and inconsistent offense left them trailing 50-41 at halftime.

Coming out of halftime, the Knicks looked eager to mount a push, but careless execution continued to haunt them. After Towns grabbed a defensive rebound and Bridges’ triple rolled in and out, Brunson stripped Brown for a quick energy boost. Yet on the other end, Towns lost the handle out of bounds, and Boston capitalized with a deep three from Tatum.

After that, Brunson drew a hard foul from Holiday, and Towns knocked down a fadeaway over Boston's smaller defender, but the Celtics began slicing through traffic. Tatum’s jam and White’s floater highlighted a growing Boston lead. New York stayed scrappy as Hart knifed through the defense on a fast break and Towns hit a midrange jumper, but a couple brutal turnovers let the Celtics keep their cushion. And it was Holiday who picked Towns clean and sprinted for an easy two, forcing a Knicks timeout.

Back from the break, Horford wasted no time rejecting Towns in a nasty weak-side help sequence, double-teaming alongside Tatum. And despite some decent Knicks defense, Boston pushed the lead to 20 with a Kornet slam and a Porzingis triple. Bridges, still scoreless at zero-for-eight, struggled to find any rhythm here.

But just when things looked bleak, New York fought back. Brunson drew a charge on Porzingis, Hart hit a pair of corner threes (who had touched 21 by the end of the third), and McBride entered with a thunderous dunk and two triples of his own. Brunson even picked Brown’s pocket again, although he couldn’t cash in. The Knicks closed the quarter on a 9-0 burst, sparked by hustle plays and shot-making from the bench.

Boston still led 73-61, but the Knicks had slowly but surely finally cracked the code.

And then came the fourth quarter, and the Knicks experienced a déjà vu moment as they erased a 20-point deficit once again. Mikal Bridges, who had been quiet through the first three quarters, erupted in the fourth and delivered the game-saving defensive stand on the final possession to seal an unforgettable comeback.

The final quarter opened with Kristaps Porzingis converting an and-one through contact, but what followed was the long-awaited awakening of Bridges. After a zero-for-eight start, he finally woke up and got on the board with a mid-range jumper, then followed it up with a smooth triple and a confident pull-up. This fuelled a quick solo 7-0 run that pumped energy back into the Knicks' veins.

Boston tried to counter, but New York’s defense held firm. Josh Hart blocked Tatum’s floater, Deuce McBride stripped Holiday, and Mitchell Robinson powered in a huge second-chance bucket after Hart’s miss. While Pritchard managed to sneak in a three, both teams were bricking from deep overall, and Bridges continued to carry the scoring load with a pair of tough finishes, including a fadeaway and a slicing drive that brought him to double digits (all in the fourth quarter alone)!

The Celtics, meanwhile, went stone cold. A brutal 14-straight missed field goal stretch allowed the Knicks to surge. Karl-Anthony Towns cleaned up a Hart miss off the glass for an and-one to cap off a 17-2 New York run, cutting the deficit to just one now. Then, Jalen Brunson finally gave the Knicks their first lead of the night at 87-86 with a clutch mid-range dagger.

Back from break, and the Celtics had still recorded 14 consecutive misses. But with the game slipping, Tatum took matters into his own hands, rushing inside with a straight-line drive and slamming it down emphatically. The Knicks' defense collapsed late, and just like that, Boston reclaimed a one-point lead, 88-87.

On the next possession, a determined Brunson was fouled and calmly knocked down both free throws, flipping the lead back to New York, 91-90.

Mikal Bridges with two defensive plays in Game 1 and Game 2. (ESPN)

Then came the defensive stand that sealed it. With just 12 seconds remaining in regulation, Tatum barrelled down the lane looking for a heroic finish, but Bridges rotated over just in time, swatting the shot clean while OG Anunoby helped trap him on a double-team. The ball was then shot the other way by Bridges as the clock expired, with the Knicks celebrating their second win of the series, now up 2-0.

Game 2 belonged to New York.

Overall, four Knicks players proven victorious in the double-digit column with Hart leading the race with 23 points and six rebounds, the cutting edge Towns with 21 points and 17 rebounds (another double-double for the big man), Brunson touching 17 points (although inefficient tonight), and the once-again heroic fourth quarter Bridges with 14 points and seven rebounds.

On the other hand, four Celtics players hit double-figures despite their loss with Brown and White piling 20 points apiece, Tatum placing 13 points and 14 rebounds, and Holiday tallying 10 points.

Next up, the New York Knicks will be facing the Boston Celtics back at home for Game 3 at MSG (2-0) on Saturday May 10, at 3:30 p.m. E.T.