KEYPOINTS SUMMARY:
- Knicks lead series 2-1 but were embarrassed in Game 3 by Celtics
- Warriors trail 2-1 vs. Wolves and will again be without Steph Curry
- Both teams play crucial Game 4s at home Monday night
- Pressure mounting in MSG and Chase Center with season momentum on the line
- Celtics and Timberwolves gaining confidence and control
- Can Brunson and Butler carry their teams to Game 4 redemption?
Knicks and Warriors Under Pressure as Game 4 Becomes Must-Win Drama
Itโs do-or-die Monday night in the NBA playoffs.
Two of the leagueโs biggest brandsโthe New York Knicks and Golden State Warriorsโare reeling under the weight of playoff pressure. Both teams will hit their home floors in what could be the most important games of their seasons.
For the Knicks, itโs a chance to go up 3-1 against the mighty Celtics.
For the Warriors, itโs a desperate attempt to avoid a 3-1 holeโand theyโll do it without Steph Curry.
The stakes? Everything.
Knicks Looking to Bounce Back After Brutal Game 3 Beating
After stealing two dramatic wins in Boston, the Knicks returned home to get blown out 115-93 in Game 3. The crowd at Madison Square Garden was stunned as the Celtics rained threes and dominated start to finish.
Now, New York is still up 2-1โbut that lead feels fragile.
Coach Thibodeau knows it. The fans feel it. And the Celtics are licking their chops.
โItโs not about the last game. Itโs about how we respond now,โ said a Knicks player. โThis is our moment.โ
Brunson Must Break Loose
Knicks star Jalen Brunson has been solidโbut not spectacularโin this series. He hasnโt yet cracked 30 points, and Monday night has to be his night.
If Brunson doesnโt go off? Boston will come in and steal homecourt back.
The Knicks need:
- Aggressive drives
- Midrange confidence
- Deep threes
- And most of allโleadership
Can Brunson answer the call?
Trouble in the Knicks Starting Five
One major issue? New Yorkโs starters are getting outscored badly.
After a strong Game 1 showing, the starters have struggled to match Bostonโs energy and pace. OG Anunoby has just 7 total points in the last two games.
Karl-Anthony Towns has been the lone bright spot, crashing the glass and anchoring the paint.
But without help from Brunson, Anunoby, and the bench, Game 4 could slip away early.
Celtics Regain Their Rhythm
Boston came into Game 3 on a missionโand boy, did they deliver.
- 20-for-40 from three
- Jayson Tatum finally found his rhythm
- Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis looked revitalized
- Celtics looked likeโฆ the Celtics
Theyโve led by 20+ points in all three gamesโbut only just won their first.
If they fix the late-game meltdowns? This series is theirs to lose.
MSG on Fire: Can Knicks Ride the Crowd?
The Garden will be electric Monday night.
Ticket prices have soared. Fans are desperate. The last time the Knicks made a Conference Finals was 2000.
โThis crowd will carry us,โ a team source said. โWe just have to show up.โ
And if the Knicks do? Theyโll be one win away from history.
Warriors in Deep Trouble Without Curry
Across the country, in San Francisco, things are even more dire.
The Warriors are down 2-1 to the red-hot Timberwolves.
And once again, Stephen Curry is OUT.
He hasnโt played since tweaking his hamstring early in Game 1. He wonโt be evaluated again until Wednesdayโmeaning the soonest he could return is Game 6.
If Golden State doesnโt win Game 4?
There might not be a Game 6.
Warriorsโ Offense Is Lost Without Steph
Golden State hasnโt looked the same without Curry.
- They went 0-for-5 from three in the first half of Game 3
- They miss his spacing, playmaking, and gravity
- Turnovers are piling up
- Nobody is stepping into that โgo-toโ role
Sure, Jonathan Kuminga dropped 30 off the bench, but that canโt happen every night.
Defense Fails Late vs. Wolves
Warriors coach Steve Kerr keeps preaching defenseโbut it broke down at the worst moments in Game 3.
- Rudy Gobert slammed home a dunk and-one
- Anthony Edwards splashed a dagger three
- Julius Randle recorded a triple-double and couldnโt be stopped
- Draymond Green fouled out early and left a giant hole in the paint
It was a total collapse. And now theyโve got one more shot to fix it.
Wolves Are Calm, Confident, and Dangerous
The Timberwolves are surging with confidence.
Anthony Edwards is blossoming into a superstar, scoring 36 in Game 3.
Julius Randle has been Mr. Consistent.
Mike Conley is controlling the tempo like a 10-year vet.
Theyโre deep. Theyโre physical. And Theyโre not afraid of Golden State.
And they smell blood.
Buddy Hield Says It Best: โGive the Ball to Jimmyโ
Without Curry, the Warriors are leaning on Jimmy Butler.
He scored:
- 33 points
- 7 assists
- 7 rebounds in Game 3
Heโs Playoff Jimmy. Heโs done this before. But can he do it again?
โWeโve just got to ride Jimmy,โ Hield said. โHeโll figure it out.โ
It might be their only hope.
Game 4 Schedules and Betting Lines
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks
- 7:30 PM ET
- ESPN
- Celtics favored by 6.5
- Madison Square Garden
Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors
- 10:00 PM ET
- ESPN
- Timberwolves favored by 5.5
- Chase Center
Knicks and Warriors Under Pressure in Game 4 Battles
This is it.
The Knicks and Warriors are under pressure like never before.
The Knicks need to bounce back at homeโor risk blowing their early lead.
The Warriors need to win without Curryโor watch their season end fast.
Two cities.
Two proud teams.
Two must-win games.
Itโs Monday night basketball drama at its finest.
