How did the New York Knicks manage this remarkable feat once more? After a dismal first quarter where they scored just 13 points and fell behind by 20 in the third period, they staged a powerful 21-4 run in the final quarter to secure their second consecutive road victory against the reigning champion Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
What is the secret behind these incredible turnarounds? If coach Tom Thibodeau is somehow casting spells on the Celtics from the sidelines, repeating it twice seems almost excessive.
“Can`t really explain it,” Knicks star Jalen Brunson told reporters following the narrow 91-90 win in Game 2, adding, “but we just gotta give each other confidence when we go through stretches like that and then just keep fighting, keep believing.”
New York`s Josh Hart commented that the team feels “very comfortable” in the closing moments of tight games thanks to “Captain Clutch,” referencing Brunson. Brunson, the league`s Clutch Player of the Year, was seated next to Hart at the press conference and humorously shook his head at the praise.
Brunson delivered several crucial plays late in the game, including his signature one-legged fadeaway over Jrue Holiday, a right-handed layup in transition against Al Horford, and the game-winning free throws. However, a particular fourth-quarter play by Mikal Bridges several minutes earlier truly exemplified how the Knicks built their 2-0 series lead.
Midway through the final quarter, after a timeout, Bridges attempted a pick-and-roll with Mitchell Robinson that didn`t yield an immediate advantage. He gave up the ball, then received it back from Brunson and went into another pick-and-roll with Robinson under a tight shot clock. Despite starting his drive before Robinson could set the screen effectively, and with Jrue Holiday, a top defender, staying tight, the possession appeared stalled. Yet, Bridges used a hesitation move to drive towards the baseline. Leveraging his 7-foot-1 wingspan, he lofted a high left-handed reverse layup over Luke Kornet`s contest. It hit the glass and fell in.
That particular basket reduced the lead to 10 points. While not the singular game-winning moment, it underscored the Knicks` sheer persistence. Like Jayson Tatum`s missed corner shot or Boston`s final possession execution issues, this play highlights New York`s ability to find a way. Bridges` determination to see the play through for the entire shot clock was a microcosm of the comeback and the team`s overall “we-will-find-a-way-somehow” attitude this postseason. This tenacity was also evident in their series against the Detroit Pistons, where they had significant comeback moments in multiple games.
At the conclusion of the third quarter, Bridges had played 31 minutes without scoring, missing all eight of his attempts, including various types of shots. However, with Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench to start the fourth, New York needed Bridges to be aggressive. Approximately a minute into the final period, Bridges finally broke his scoring drought with a midrange jumper over Payton Pritchard.
Shortly after, Bridges quickly pushed the ball upcourt after a made basket, executed a baseline move resembling Steve Nash, and found space for a short jumper, which he made. A few minutes later, he connected on a pull-up two-pointer over Holiday. While he also made transition three-pointers, the shots Bridges created for himself – especially after struggling so much earlier – demonstrated a level of resolve not always seen late in a playoff game from a player who had missed his first eight shots.
Bridges credited his teammates and coach Thibodeau calling a play for him early in the fourth quarter for helping him stay positive. “I feel like I`m pretty mentally strong, but it was wearing on me a little bit, just missing shots,” he admitted. He emphasized, “It`s really just missing shots is affecting us. I`m trying to win the game, and me missing is not going to help us,” showing his focus on the team`s success. By the final buzzer, Bridges finished with 14 points (on 6-of-18 shooting), seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in 43 minutes. Neither his nor Brunson`s shooting percentages were stellar, but the inefficiency became irrelevant in the context of the win.
Towns hailed Bridges as one of the NBA`s most clutch defenders, telling reporters it was fitting that Bridges proved his worth “when the lights are the brightest.” Brunson sees this composure in Bridges dating back to their practices at Villanova, noting, “He just has the ability to block out the noise.” Ultimately, they concluded, this fighting spirit is not just a Bridges trait, but a core characteristic of the Knicks team.
“No matter what happens, we`re going to be together as a team,” Brunson stated. “And we`re going to have each other`s back regardless. It doesn`t matter what a single person or us collectively are going through.”
Jasper Hawthorne