KEYPOINTS SUMMARY
- Knicks beat Celtics 108-105 in overtime to steal Game 1
- New York rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit
- Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points
- Mikal Bridges made a game-saving steal with one second left
- Celtics missed 45 three-pointers โ an NBA playoff record
- Tatum and Brown each scored 23 but couldnโt close it out
- Porzingis played just 13 minutes before leaving with illness
- Knicks fans explode in celebration as MSG shakes with playoff energy
New York Celebrates Knicks Game 1 Win Over Celtics in Instant Classic
This is what playoff basketball dreams are made of โ and the New York Knicks just delivered an unforgettable Game 1 comeback thatโs got the entire city on fire!
Down by 20 points in the second half and all but counted out, the Knicks flipped the script on the defending champion Boston Celtics in overtime, winning 108-105 in a thriller that had Madison Square Garden rocking like it hasnโt since the 90s.
Led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunobyโs 29-point performances, and sealed with a game-saving steal by Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have officially turned this series on its head.
Brunson and Anunoby Take Over When It Matters Most
In a playoff game where every possession mattered, the Knicksโ stars showed up with ice in their veins.
Jalen Brunson, already known as one of the clutchest guards in the league, poured in 29 points, slicing through Bostonโs defense and hitting one tough shot after another in crunch time.
But matching him blow-for-blow was OG Anunoby, who also dropped 29 and played a nearly flawless two-way game. His three-point shooting, defensive stops, and hustle were critical as the Knicks clawed their way back from what looked like a guaranteed loss.
Bridges Saves the Day with Legendary Final Play
The Knicks had just taken a three-point lead with seconds left in overtime when Boston got the ball with one final chance to tie.
Enter Mikal Bridges.
With one second left, Bridges swiped the ball clean from Jaylen Brown before the Celtics could get a shot up โ sealing the victory and sending MSG into total mayhem.
โI saw the pass, and I just reacted,โ Bridges said after the game. โWe fight together. Thatโs who we are.โ
And fight they did.
Towns Puts in Work on Both Ends
Donโt forget about Karl-Anthony Towns, who added 14 points and 13 rebounds, providing the size and inside presence New York needed against a Boston team that had them beat on paper.
His physicality in the paint and ability to grab key boards in overtime gave the Knicks second-chance opportunities that helped ice the game.
Celtics Collapse: 45 Missed Threes Doom the Champs
Letโs talk about Bostonโs side โ because this was a collapse of epic proportions.
The Celtics led by 20 in the second half and looked ready to cruise to a 1-0 series lead. But then, the shots stopped falling.
And falling.
And falling.
Boston missed an NBA playoff-record 45 three-pointers, shooting just 14-of-59 from beyond the arc โ a number that will haunt them all week.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 23, but both disappeared down the stretch. Tatum missed key jumpers, and Brown lost the handle on the final play.
โWe got good looks, but they didnโt fall,โ Tatum said. โThatโs the game sometimes.โ
Porzingis Out, Celtics Lose Edge
Adding to Bostonโs problems: Kristaps Porzingis, who started the game but left at halftime and never returned due to illness.
He played just 13 minutes, scoring 4 points before sitting out the second half. Without him, Boston lacked rim protection and spacing, and New York took full advantage.
Jrue Holiday, back from a hamstring strain, tried to make up the difference with 16 points in 39 minutes, but the Celticsโ defense clearly missed Porzingisโ shot-blocking presence.
New York Erupts: MSG Shakes With Playoff Glory
Back at Madison Square Garden, the crowd was pure chaos.
When the final buzzer sounded, fans screamed, hugged, and sang in the aisles. Some said the arena felt like a championship celebration.
โThat was the loudest Iโve ever heard this building,โ one fan said. โThey were chanting โBoston Sucks!โ before halftime โ and we were LOSING.โ
Now? Knicks fans are dreaming big.
From the buzzer-beater to the comeback to the star performances, Game 1 had everything.
Knicks Rewrite the Narrative: Regular Season Means Nothing Now
Letโs not forget: Boston swept New York during the regular season, winning all four matchups.
But the playoffs are a different beast โ and this Knicks team is hungry, united, and absolutely fearless.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said it best:
โNobody remembers the regular season in May. This is about heart. And tonight, our guys showed heart.โ
Whatโs Next: Game 2 Will Be a War
With the Knicks up 1-0, Game 2 becomes must-win territory for Boston. The defending champs canโt afford to go down 0-2 heading to Madison Square Garden.
Expect a massive response from Tatum, Brown, and (hopefully) a healthy Porzingis.
But the Knicks now believe they can beat anyone.
โWeโre not backing down,โ Brunson said. โWeโre just getting started.โ
New York Celebrates Knicks Game 1 Win Like Itโs 1999
This was the kind of win that defines a playoff run.
This was the kind of win that changes expectations.
The New York celebrates Knicks Game 1 win not just because they beat the Celtics โ but because they proved they belong among the elite.
So cue the confetti, crank up the Sinatra, and keep the champagne on ice.
Because if this keeps up?
Broadway might be hosting a parade in June.
