Knicks stun Celtics with another comeback to lead 2-0, while Thunder dominate Nuggets to level series in explosive NBA playoff action. Game 3s loom large.
Brunson’s Late Heroics Help Knicks Edge Celtics in Game 2
The New York Knicks pulled off another jaw-dropping comeback to seize a 2-0 series lead over the defending champion Boston Celtics, eking out a 91–90 win on the road at TD Garden.
Trailing by 20 in the third and 16 in the fourth, the Knicks didn’t lead until the final two minutes. Jalen Brunson calmly sank two clutch free throws with 12.7 seconds left to give New York the edge, and Mikal Bridges’ last-second defensive stop on Jayson Tatum ensured the Knicks escaped with a win.
Josh Hart once again stepped up, delivering a game-high 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 21 points and 17 rebounds. Brunson added 17 points and seven assists. Bridges, quiet until the fourth, poured in all 14 of his points in the final quarter.
New York’s defensive intensity and clutch shot-making stole the spotlight as they handed Boston another gut-punch after rallying from 20 down in their overtime Game 1 win.
Boston, led by Derrick White and Jaylen Brown with 20 points each, faltered down the stretch despite dominating much of the game. Tatum had 13 points and 14 rebounds but was held in check offensively, shooting just 5-of-19.
The Celtics now find themselves in a must-win situation as the series shifts to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday.
Thunder Hammer Nuggets with Record-Breaking Scoring in Game 2
After a gut-wrenching Game 1 loss on a last-second three-pointer, the Oklahoma City Thunder responded emphatically with a statement 149–106 win over the Denver Nuggets to level their Western Conference semifinal at 1–1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 34 points and eight assists, shooting a red-hot 11-of-13 from the floor. The Thunder exploded for 45 points in the opening quarter and tied an NBA playoff record with 87 points in the first half, effectively putting the game out of reach before the break.
Oklahoma City’s relentless pace and shot-making left Denver in disarray. Isaiah Hartenstein added 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a well-rounded effort.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets crumbled under pressure. Nikola Jokic, coming off a 42-point Game 1 masterclass, finished with just 17 points and fouled out in the third quarter. He also committed six turnovers and posted a career-worst -36 plus/minus.
Denver coach David Adelman didn’t sugarcoat it: “We got punked. They came out with the right intensity and we didn’t.”
Game 3 will be pivotal as the series moves to Denver on Friday night.
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