NBA playoffs: Knicks rally from 20-points down again to stun Celtics in Game 2, take a 2-0 series lead
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks have pulled off yet another 20-point comeback to stun the Celtics and take a 2-0 series lead. ()
The New York Knicks are getting good at this.
The Knicks, just two days after mounting a 20-point second-half comeback to stun the Boston Celtics to open their Eastern Conference semifinals series, have done it again. The Knicks rallied from 20 points down, thanks to a huge fourth-quarter showing from Mikal Bridges, to grab a 91-90 win over the Celtics and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Knicks went on a wild 21-4 run in the fourth quarter, and took their first lead of the night after a mid-range bucket from Jalen Brunson down the stretch. That came after the Celtics missed 12 consecutive shots and went more than eight minutes without a field goal. After a fairly dominant showing over the first three quarters that built up a 20-point lead, they largely shut down. Their last made field goal came at the 8:40 mark of the fourth quarter, when Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer.
KNICKS TAKE THE LEAD WITH A 21-4 RUN 😱
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/v9lCrYjpVM
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 8, 2025
Finally, the Celtics' dry spell snapped with just under 20 seconds to go in the game after Jayson Tatum drove it full court and threw down an easy dunk. That put them back in the lead by a single point.
Then on the other end, Brunson drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws to put the Knicks back up on top. While the Celtics had one last look, Tatum tried to get a shot off, Bridges blocked Tatum in the corner to snag the one-point win and leave Boston absolutely stunned.
TATUM DOESN'T GET THE SHOT OFF ‼️
KNICKS WIN GAME 2 🤯 pic.twitter.com/q8JH0dYKvU
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 8, 2025
Game 3 of the series is set for Saturday afternoon in New York.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dallas hosts Atlanta after Canada's 21-point game
Atlanta Dream (15-11, 9-6 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (8-19, 3-12 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta Dream visits the Dallas Wings after Jordin Canada scored 21 points in the Dream's 77-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The Wings have gone 5-8 at home. Dallas is sixth in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 86.4 points while holding opponents to 44.7% shooting. The Dream are 7-7 in road games. Atlanta has a 2-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points. Dallas' average of 6.8 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 7.1 per game Atlanta allows. Atlanta averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than Dallas allows. The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Wings defeated the Dream 68-55 in their last matchup on June 25. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 21 points, and Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 23 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Paige Bueckers is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Wings. JJ Quinerly is averaging 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over the last 10 games. Allisha Gray is averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Dream. Canada is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 4-6, averaging 82.9 points, 38.0 rebounds, 21.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.8 points per game. Dream: 5-5, averaging 82.6 points, 35.4 rebounds, 21.4 assists, 7.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.8 points. INJURIES: Wings: Maddy Siegrist: out (knee), Tyasha Harris: out for season (knee). Dream: Rhyne Howard: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
37 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Dallas hosts Atlanta after Canada's 21-point game
Atlanta Dream (15-11, 9-6 Eastern Conference) at Dallas Wings (8-19, 3-12 Western Conference) Arlington, Texas; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta Dream visits the Dallas Wings after Jordin Canada scored 21 points in the Dream's 77-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. The Wings have gone 5-8 at home. Dallas is sixth in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 86.4 points while holding opponents to 44.7% shooting. The Dream are 7-7 in road games. Atlanta has a 2-2 record in games decided by less than 4 points. Dallas' average of 6.8 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.3 fewer made shots on average than the 7.1 per game Atlanta allows. Atlanta averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than Dallas allows. The two teams square off for the third time this season. The Wings defeated the Dream 68-55 in their last matchup on June 25. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 21 points, and Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 23 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Paige Bueckers is scoring 18.2 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Wings. JJ Quinerly is averaging 11.8 points and 3.3 rebounds over the last 10 games. Allisha Gray is averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Dream. Canada is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Wings: 4-6, averaging 82.9 points, 38.0 rebounds, 21.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 87.8 points per game. Dream: 5-5, averaging 82.6 points, 35.4 rebounds, 21.4 assists, 7.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.8 points. INJURIES: Wings: Maddy Siegrist: out (knee), Tyasha Harris: out for season (knee). Dream: Rhyne Howard: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Zach Lowe picks his most intriguing player heading into next season: "He's going to be really, really good, really, really soon"
Zach Lowe picks his most intriguing player heading into next season: "He's going to be really, really good, really, really soon" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Back in his days as an NBA writer, Zach Lowe used to highlight the most intriguing players — no rookies or sophomores allowed — before each season. This segment was recently revived in podcast form. Joined by journalist Howard Beck, both the guest and the host named six players who fit the criteria. Leading Lowe's list was Ausar Thompson, soon entering his third season in the league. Playoff debut against the Knicks Thompson, the Detroit Pistons' fifth overall pick in 2023, got his first real taste of playoff basketball last season — an invaluable experience for any player. Growth only comes from being exposed to high-pressure moments, which Detroit faced plenty of against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference First Round. Although the team from "Motor City" fell in six games, Lowe believes Thompson and the team benefited from the "physicality and intensity" of that series. Playing over 22 minutes per game against the Knicks, Ausar made a noticeable impact, especially with his ability to grab boards. "He's an insane offensive rebounder," Zach said. "In the playoffs, he averaged nearly one and a half free throws per 36 minutes." The stats back it up: the Pistons' young forward, blessed with a seven-foot wingspan, grabbed three offensive rebounds in both Game 2 and Game 6. Lowe also called the former Pine Crest high school player "an absolute force of nature attacking the rim." While his scoring numbers don't fully reflect his impact — Thompson averaged just 11.5 points against New York and can sometimes struggle offensively — it's encouraging to see him play fearlessly, something that has held many players — former All-Star Ben Simmons being one example — is set to break out What sets Ausar apart isn't just his rebounding or aggression at the rim. Zach also highlighted his skill as a "great cutter," a perfect fit for Detroit's offense. Lowe explains that when point guard Cade Cunningham draws double teams, he can quickly swing the ball to center Jalen Duren, whose passing vision creates scoring chances by hitting Thompson on his cuts to the basket. The 48-year-old added that even when Cunningham initiates the offense, Thompson's screens create space and mismatches, using his physicality to battle bigger forwards while still having the edge on most guards. Even if defenders then sag off Thompson because of his dismal three-point shooting — he's not even hitting 20 percent from deep — Lowe says Detroit can still weaponize him through handoffs to shooters coming off screens, like Duncan Robinson. Ultimately, Lowe called Thompson "an incredibly exciting player," noting that his defense is already his biggest strength — and still getting better. "He's just going to be a monster on defense across every position," said the veteran NBA analyst, who believes the sky's the limit for Ausar. "With a season under his belt, a playoff run under his belt — I'm not saying All-Star or anything, that's still a ways off considering he's mostly a garbage man on offense — but he's going to be really, really good, really, really soon," Lowe remarked. Pistons fans will start finding out how soon that prediction plays out — or doesn't — on October 21, 2025, which is opening night of the new NBA story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
