Knicks do it again, hand Celtics another deflating loss after late Game 2 comeback

The New York Knicks did it again. As they did in game 1, the Knicks backed away from a 20 -point deficit to overcome the Boston Celtics in TD Garden in game 2 of their semifinal series of the East Conference.

The Knicks had a 21-2 race in the last quarter and grabbed their first advantage of the night with 1:59 remaining in an 18-foot jumper of the star Jalen Brunson. The Celtics had 13 consecutive failures from the floor before Jayson Tatum drove directly to the hoop for a voyage that put Boston 90-89 with 18.5 seconds soaking up.

But that lasts too long for Brunson’s clutch game, who threw a foul on his trigger attempt and went to the line. He drained both free throws to give the Knicks a 91-90 advantage with 12.7 seconds on the clock.

The Celtics had one more opportunity to win, but when Tatum tried to create their own shot, New York’s defense took a step forward.

Mikal Bridges stole Tatum’s ball, sealing the second consecutive coming of the Knicks and giving them an advantage of the 2-0 series. It was also the second robbery of Bridges. In game 1, Jaylen Brown took the ball with a remaining second in extra time.

Josh Hart led the Knicks with 23 points in game 2, while Karl-Anthony Towns ended with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Brunson added 17 points and Bridges scored all his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Derrick White and Brown scored 20 points for the Celtics. Tatum had a cold night in 5 of 19 shots for 13 points, but contributed 14 rebounds, five assists and three robberies.

Kristaps porzingis did not start after sitting the second half or game 1 with a disease. He left the bank for the fifth time in his career in the NBA and ended with eight points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.

In game 1, the Celtics were 15 of 60 from behind the arch to establish a NBA playoff record for most triple lost in a game. Their long range problems continued on Wednesday night, when they obtain only 10 of 40 of 3. As a result, they established a new NBA record for most of the triple lost (75) in a period of two games.

Despite their struggles against the shot, the Celtics found traction at the end of the third quarter, using an execution game of 16-6 for their effort at the defensive end of converting a 10-point advantage into an advantage of 73-53 at the end of the period.

It was 84-68 after triple Payton Pritchard with 8:40 to play, but the Celtics would not make another basket until Tatum turned.

For the first time in the history of the NBA playoffs, the road teams in the semifinals of the conference were combined to go 4-0 in game 1. After the last victory of the Knicks, the visitors improved 5-0 in this round.

The series is now going to New York, which will organize games 3 and 4 in Madison Square Garden.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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