The Knicks made playoff history by erasing two 20-point deficits in games one and two in Boston, and in game four on Monday night, they did it again.
New York made more postseason history with a comeback win to tighten its grip on the conference semifinal series, this time erasing a 14-point deficit for their best home win of the playoffs.
The Knicks were down nine at halftime, making them the first team ever in the playoffs to have three comeback wins when trailing by nine or more at the half in a single playoff series, according to Greg Harvey of OptaStats.
The Celtics came out firing and shooting over 50 percent from downtown at the half, as it looked like Boston was once again set to continue its redemption tour from its ice cold shooting in games one and two. But the Knicks responded with a dominant second half led by Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges, igniting a party inside Madison Square Garden as the Knicks moved to within one win of their first conference final appearance in 25 years.
The heavily-favored Celtics are now also likely without their superstar in Jayson Tatum, who went down with a non-contact lower leg injury just as the Knicks were putting the finishing touches on their comeback off an OG Anunoby steal and breakaway dunk.
Monday’s win further solidified the Knicks’ growing reputation as a fourth-quarter team led by Jalen Brunson, who now has the most points in the fourth quarter through the first 10 games of a postseason since 1997, ahead of Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry.