The New York Knicks flipped the script in Boston on Monday night, rallying from a massive 20-point deficit to shock the defending champions 108-105 in overtime. Powered by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, the Knicks stole Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final series in a stunning fashion that left TD Garden stunned and the Celtics scrambling for answers.
Brunson continued his red-hot postseason form, tallying 29 points with five three-pointers, while Anunoby matched that with 29 of his own—including a playoff-career-high six shots from deep. It was a gutsy, relentless performance from a Knicks side that looked dead and buried early in the third quarter, only to roar back and snatch a pivotal win on the road.
Celtics Fly Out Early, Knicks Stumble
Boston, the No. 2 seed and reigning NBA champions, wasted no time imposing themselves in front of their home crowd. With Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum leading the charge—each finishing with 23 points—the Celtics blitzed the Knicks through the first half. By early in the third quarter, they had raced to a commanding 72-52 lead.
The Celtics looked composed, clinical, and locked in. They were scoring inside and out, moving the ball efficiently, and controlling the tempo. Al Horford, Derrick White, and Evan Mobley (20 points, 10 rebounds) provided crucial support, and it seemed like Game 1 would be a comfortable victory for the home team.
But the Knicks, a team forged in the grind of playoff basketball, didn’t flinch.
Brunson, Anunoby Spark Knicks Revival
With the game slipping away, New York needed a response—and fast. Brunson, who had dropped 40 points in the Knicks’ first-round series-clinching win over Detroit, began to find his rhythm. Alongside him, OG Anunoby started heating up from beyond the arc, and together the duo ignited a fierce rally.
Anunoby and Brunson combined for 21 third-quarter points to trim the deficit. Then came a backbreaking burst to start the fourth. Miles McBride hit a three. Anunoby followed suit. Karl-Anthony Towns added a layup. Suddenly, Boston’s once-comfortable lead had vanished.
By the midway point of the fourth, the game was tied 86-86. Brunson then poured in 11 points over the next few minutes to push the Knicks ahead 97-91 with under four minutes to go. The Celtics were reeling.
BRUNSON & OG EACH SCORE 29
KNICKS COME BACK FROM 20 DOWN TO TAKE GAME 1 IN OT pic.twitter.com/ESedDTRap8
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025
Missed Opportunity, Extra Five Minutes
Still, Boston had a shot at redemption. After rallying to tie the game at 100-100 in the final minute, Brunson had a golden opportunity to win it in regulation. Isolated against Tatum, he drove into the lane and got a look at the basket. But the layup bounced off the rim with just three seconds left, and the game headed to overtime.
Overtime, however, belonged entirely to the Knicks.
Mikal Bridges, Anunoby, and Towns controlled the extra period. Anunoby’s energy remained high on both ends, chasing down loose balls and hitting clutch buckets. Towns was a force on the boards. The Knicks’ defense clamped down, forcing Boston into rushed, contested shots as the game slipped from their grasp.
3 steals
2 blocks
1 game-sealing playMikal Bridges was LOCKDOWN for the @nyknicks in the Game 1 overtime W! pic.twitter.com/28Y13hHcu0
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025
Defensive Woes Doom Celtics
After the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla didn’t hold back in his postgame reflection. He pointed to a lack of focus and intensity on the defensive end in the second half as the key reason for their collapse.
“We left some of their good shooters open,” Mazzulla said. “That’s detail stuff we’ve got to be better at.”
It was a brutal loss for Boston, who had hoped to take a 1-0 series lead and protect home court. Instead, they now face mounting pressure to respond in Game 2, with the Knicks suddenly holding all the momentum.
Knicks Send A Message
While Brunson and Anunoby took the spotlight, the Knicks’ comeback was a collective effort. Karl-Anthony Towns played a vital role down the stretch, both scoring and defending. Mikal Bridges hit key shots in overtime. Miles McBride contributed timely baskets and gritty defense.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau praised his team’s toughness and resilience after the game.
“It was a great team win,” Thibodeau said. “We started well, then we fell into a hole, and then we fought our way out. We made tough plays down the stretch, and that’s what it takes in the playoffs.”
Brunson echoed those sentiments.
“We stayed calm,” he said. “We just kept fighting. It’s the playoffs—you don’t fold when you’re down 20. We believe in each other.”
Now, all eyes shift to Game 2 in Boston on Wednesday night. The Knicks have landed a heavy first blow, and the Celtics will need to dig deep to prevent this series from spiraling away from them.
From trailing by 20 to walking out of TD Garden with a 1-0 lead, the Knicks reminded everyone that in the postseason, no lead is safe—and no team should be underestimated.
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