Knicks Stun Celtics in Overtime to Take Game 1 Lead in Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
In a thrilling matchup, the New York Knicks have taken a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semi-finals series against the Boston Celtics, winning 108-105 in overtime. The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points, while Mikal Bridges made a crucial play to seal the win, stealing the ball from Jaylen Brown with just one second left on the clock.
According to The Guardian, the Celtics had a 20-point lead in the second half, but the Knicks refused to give up, with Brunson stating, "We told each other just keep believing. Just keep fighting and sticking together, and keep chipping away. There wasn’t going to be a 20-point shot." This determination paid off, as the Knicks managed to claw their way back into the game and ultimately take the win.
The Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Brown both had 23 points, while Derrick White added 19 points and 11 rebounds. However, the team’s inability to make their three-pointers proved costly, with the Celtics finishing 15 for 60 from beyond the arc. As Brown noted, "In those spots where they have momentum, we can’t just fire up threes. I felt like we just settled in the second half a lot."
The return of Jrue Holiday to the starting lineup after a hamstring strain was a boost for the Celtics, as he finished with 16 points in 39 minutes. However, Kristaps Porzingis played only 13 minutes and did not return after half-time due to an illness. Celtics coach Joe Mazulla expressed concern about Porzingis’s availability for Game 2, stating, "Obviously it impacts the game with [Porzingis’s] ability at both ends of the floor … Hopefully he’s ready for Game 2."
The game went into overtime, with the Knicks taking a 106-100 edge via a three-point play by Anunoby, followed by a three-pointer by Bridges. Although Brown made a three-pointer with just over a minute left to cut the deficit to 108-105, Bridges’s crucial steal from Brown with just one second left sealed the win for the Knicks.
As reported by The Guardian, Karl Anthony-Towns added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, while Bridges’s defensive play was instrumental in securing the win. The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 lead in the series when they face the Celtics in Game 2.
The Celtics’ loss was their first in the playoffs, and they will be eager to bounce back in Game 2. As Mazulla noted, the team’s inability to make their three-pointers was a key factor in the loss, and they will look to improve their shooting in the next game. The series is set to continue, with the Knicks looking to take a significant lead and the Celtics seeking to even the score.
The match was covered by The Guardian and can be read in full here: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/05/nba-playoffs-knicks-celtics.
