Knicks Lead Series 3-1, Defeat Celtics 121-113

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    NEW YORK โ€“ Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks capitalized on a powerful fourth-quarter surge just as Jayson Tatum of the Celtics suffered a concerning right leg injury. While the full extent of Tatumโ€™s injury remains unknown, the stakes in the Eastern Conference semifinals have become crystal clear.

    The Knicks are just one victory away from making it to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. Meanwhile, the Celtics face the monumental task of replicating one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history to keep their championship hopes alive. Brunson dazzled with 39 points and 12 assists, leading the Knicks to a 121-113 victory on Monday night in Game 4, pushing the defending champions to the brink of elimination.

    After suffering a heavy defeat in Game 3, the Knicks bounced back, dominating the second half and securing the first home court win in the series. โ€œI think it was a sense of urgency, desperation, just knowing that we have a great opportunity,โ€ Brunson remarked.

    The Celtics now face the daunting task of becoming just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, a task made more difficult by the possible absence of Tatum, who exited the court with his injury with under three minutes remaining.

    The Knicks also benefited from strong performances by Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, both contributing 23 points, while OG Anunoby recovered from earlier struggles to add 20 points. A win at Boston on Wednesday night would seal the series for the Knicks. Should they fall short, they would return to Madison Square Garden for a chance on Friday night.

    Celticsโ€™ veteran Al Horford emphasized the need for the team to regroup and prepare for the next game. โ€œWe just have to rally together because obviously weโ€™ve lost our leader, the guy that gets us going,โ€ Horford said.

    Jayson Tatum had a stellar playoff-high of 42 points before his leg injury occurred in an attempt to chase a loose ball following a Celtics turnover. Historically, no team has come from a 3-1 deficit since Denver achieved the feat twice in 2020. The last occurrence when a team won a true road game comeback was Clevelandโ€™s victory over Golden State in the 2016 NBA Finals.

    Despite holding a lead in each of the first three gamesโ€”and losing the initial two in Bostonโ€”the Celtics found themselves ahead by double digits within the first five minutes of Game 4, holding a 62-51 advantage at halftime.

    Brunson scored 18 points in the pivotal third quarter, where the Knicks kept their starters on the court, outpacing the Celtics 37-23 to set up a dramatic final stretch. โ€œJust keep fighting,โ€ advised Bridges. โ€œWe were down way worse before.โ€

    Following Tatumโ€™s tie-making three-point play at 102-all, Anunobyโ€™s three-pointer shifted the momentum, leading to an 11-0 Knicks run that ultimately sealed their victory at 116-104.

    Derrick White shone with six 3-pointers, totaling 23 points for the Celtics, with Jaylen Brown contributing an additional 20 points.