Camille Naredo

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 2 Game 2 on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP 

BOSTON, MA - MAY 7: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 2 Game 2 on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE   Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Brian Babineau / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

2025 NBA Playoffs - New York Knicks v Boston Celtics - Game Two

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746935367076AFP__20250508__2213327737__v1__Preview__2025NbaPlayoffsNewYorkKnicksVBostonCelticsGa.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 2 Game 2 on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 2 Game 2 on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. <em>Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP </em></span></span></span></div><p>NEW YORK — Defending NBA champion Boston overpowered New York 115-93 on Saturday, dominating to the finish after squandering 20-point leads to lose two prior playoff games to the Knicks.</p><p>Payton Pritchard, the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year as the top reserve player, led Boston&#x27;s blowout with 23 points while Jayson Tatum added 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.</p><p>Jaylen Brown had 19 points and Derrick White scored 17.</p><p>No team has ever rallied from 0-3 down to win a series, a fact the Celtics knew all too well.</p><p>&quot;We understood the magnitude of this game,&quot; Tatum said. &quot;We needed this one. Didn&#x27;t like the way we felt after last game so just coming out here with the right mindset, just trying to put it all together.&quot;</p><p>The visiting Celtics pulled within 2-1 in their NBA second-round playoff series and can equalize the best-of-seven Eastern Conference matchup by winning game four on Monday at Madison Square Garden.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/9/nba-champs-boston-in-trouble-after-letting-big-leads-slip-1244">&#x27;Inexcusable&#x27;: NBA champs Boston in trouble after letting big leads slip<br/></a></div><p>&quot;We understand Monday is going to be a great atmosphere, a big game. It&#x27;s going to be fun,&quot; Tatum said.</p><p>&quot;Just coming out with the right mindset, understanding we played better but we can play a lot better based on a lot of things we did we really didn&#x27;t like tonight. So just building off that.&quot;</p><p>Coming off two woeful games of three-point shooting, the Celtics made 20-of-40 from beyond the arc in game three, Pritchard sinking 5-of-10 three-point shots, Tatum making 5-of-9 and Al Horford hitting 3-of-4.</p><p>&quot;We made some shots,&quot; Tatum said. &quot;It&#x27;s a make or miss league sometimes.&quot;</p><p>Boston made 40-of-83 shots overall (48.2%) while the Knicks made only 32-of-80 overall (40.0%) and 5-of-25 (20.0%) from three-point range.Boston had pulled away to big leads in the first two games at home but faded late with poor three-point shooting and lost in the final minutes while delivering their worst three-point shooting efforts of the campaign.</p><p>&quot;You can&#x27;t ride the emotional roller coaster of the playoffs,&quot; Tatum said. &quot;You can&#x27;t get too high or too low after a win or a loss. Our core group, we&#x27;ve been together a long team, we&#x27;ve been in so many different circumstances, so we just thought stay together and figure it out.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/8/nba-knicks-rally-again-to-take-2-0-lead-over-celtics-thunder-roar-back-1430">NBA: Knicks rally again to take 2-0 lead over Celtics, Thunder roar back</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Tap into your darkness</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xuLB0RCDXaw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><p>The Celtics overcame two humbling defeats to boost their chances at Boston&#x27;s first back-to-back NBA titles since 1968-69.</p><p>&quot;You don&#x27;t get into the journey for it to be easy,&quot; Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. &quot;It has been dark, but in a good way. You&#x27;ve just got to tap into your darkness and that&#x27;s it. That&#x27;s what we&#x27;ve got to do.&quot;</p><p>The Celtics seized another big early lead in game three but this time had the touch from beyond the arc and defensively as the Knicks never led.</p><p>Boston surged to a 36-20 lead after the first quarter, stretched the half-time edge to 71-46, the largest half-time home playoff deficit in Knicks history, and led 96-70 entering the fourth quarter before dominating to the final buzzer.</p><p>Jalen Brunson led New York with 27 points while Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks, who have not reached the conference finals since 2000.</p><p>&quot;We need to play with more of a sense of urgency,&quot; Brunson said. &quot;I don&#x27;t think we came with the mindset we needed. A lot we need to discuss and figure out.&quot;</p><p>Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said his team lacked the intensity needed to challenge Boston.</p><p>&quot;They got the lead early. We missed some shots early that impacted us and they got confidence early in the game,&quot; Thibodeau said.</p><p>&quot;We got in a hole early. That took some energy away from us. We&#x27;ll make our corrections and get ready for the next one...We&#x27;ve got to bounce back.&quot;</p><p>Saturday&#x27;s only other NBA playoff game will find Minnesota at Golden State with the Western Conference series level 1-1.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>Defending NBA champion Boston overpowered New York 115-93 on Saturday, dominating to the finish after squandering 20-point leads to lose two prior playoff games to the Knicks.</p>

Defending NBA champion Boston overpowered New York 115-93 on Saturday, dominating to the finish after squandering 20-point leads to lose two prior playoff games to the Knicks.

Celtics overwhelm Knicks to pull within 2-1 in NBA playoff series

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

Celtics overwhelm Knicks to pull within 2-1 in NBA playoff series

Agence France-Presse,

Published May 11, 2025 09:42 AM PHT

|

Updated May 11, 2025 11:50 AM PHT

Read More:

NBA

National Basketball League

Boston Celtics

New York Knicks

ABSSports

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.