New York Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 121-113 for a 3-1 lead in ECSF: A resounding response

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 121-113, taking a dominant 3-1 lead in the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics’ hot shooting threatened to run away with another game, but the Knicks rose to the occasion in the second half to win.

Boston started the night unconscious from three. Derrick White had three three-pointers in the first three minutes of action, pushing Boston to a quick lead. The Knicks made runs to close the gap, but Jayson Tatum kept making tough shots to rebuild the lead. New York entered halftime down double-digits again, but eleven points felt like nothing after the first three games of this series.

The Knicks stepped up their defense as Boston’s shooting cooled off. Their rotations tightened up, leaving the door open for a spectacular third quarter from Jalen Brunson. New York entered the fourth quarter with a lead for the first time this series. It was a lead they’d refuse to relinquish. 

The stage was set for a duel between Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum, but Brunson got help from Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby while Tatum went down with a nasty-looking injury. Boston couldn’t come back without their star, which was an unfortunate end to an otherwise incredible game. 

The Knicks are a game away from the Eastern Conference Finals. Let’s see how they made it this far.