Knicks Rally from 20 Down to Shock Celtics 108–105 in OT Thriller Behind Brunson, Anunoby, and Bridges

BOSTON, MA (WE) — In a game that will go down as one of the most memorable postseason performances in recent New York Knicks history, the team stormed back from a 20-point second-half deficit to stun the top-seeded Boston Celtics 108–105 in overtime at TD Garden on Monday night. The Game 1 win gives the Knicks a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and snatches away home-court advantage from the reigning conference champions.

Led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, who each scored 29 points, the Knicks dug deep defensively and executed in the clutch. But it was Mikal Bridges who etched his name into postseason lore with a game-saving steal on Jaylen Brown in the final second of overtime, securing a dramatic win for New York.

Boston’s Collapse and New York’s Resolve

Coming into the series, the Boston Celtics were the heavy favorites after sweeping the regular-season series against the Knicks 4–0. Their dominant run through the regular season and a convincing first-round victory over the Orlando Magic positioned them as potential title favorites. But Monday’s contest exposed cracks.

Boston led by as many as 20 in the third quarter and seemed poised to cruise to another playoff win behind solid first-half performances from Jayson Tatum and Brown. But poor shooting—especially from beyond the arc—undid their efforts.

The Celtics missed a staggering 45 three-pointers, finishing 15-for-60 (25%) from distance. According to NBA statistics, that set a new postseason record for most missed threes in a single game, surpassing the previous mark held by the Minnesota Timberwolves just last week.

Despite the avalanche of bricks, Boston Celtics still had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds of overtime. After a foul by Karl-Anthony Towns, the Celtics had three seconds and the ball, needing a three to extend the game. But Bridges timed his move perfectly, stripping Brown as he attempted to receive the inbound, igniting wild celebrations from the Knicks bench and silencing a stunned TD Garden crowd.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first half belonged to the Boston Celtics, who capitalized on New York’s sluggish offense and lack of defensive urgency. Boston led 58–42 at the break, thanks in large part to the balanced scoring of Tatum and Brown, who had combined for 27 points by halftime.

But the Knicks came out of the locker room with renewed intensity. A 20–9 run to close the third quarter cut the deficit to single digits, 84–75. Then, New York opened the fourth quarter on an 8–0 burst, tying the game at 86 after a steal and dunk from Anunoby, who was relentless on both ends of the floor.

From there, the game became a back-and-forth affair, featuring three ties and three lead changes in the final minutes of regulation. Anunoby drilled a corner three with 1:07 left to give New York a 100–98 lead. But on the other end, Brown found Jrue Holiday on a clever pick-and-roll for a game-tying layup.

New York had a final possession with under six seconds to win it in regulation, but Brunson missed a driving layup. Tatum had a chance to steal it at the buzzer with a desperation jumper, but his attempt fell short, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime Heroics: Anunoby and Bridges Shine

In overtime, the Knicks seized control early. Anunoby converted a tough and-one drive to put New York up 103–100, then Bridges—who had been ice cold most of the game—buried a clutch three-pointer to push the lead to 106–100.

Boston would not go away, though. Brown hit his only three of the night (1-for-10 from deep) to trim the margin to three. After a missed three by Josh Hart, the Celtics had one last shot after Towns fouled Brown before the shot attempt. But it never materialized, thanks to Bridges’ game-clinching theft.

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Bridges’ stat line won’t jump off the page—8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in 51 minutes—but his timing and defense made the difference. The steal capped a remarkable team comeback.

“We just didn’t stop playing,” Brunson said postgame. “Down 20, we could’ve packed it in. But that’s not us. We stayed together, fought, and made plays when it mattered most.”

Knicks Key Contributors

• Jalen Brunson: 29 points (9-of-23 FG, 5-of-9 3PT, 6-of-7 FT), 5 rebounds, 6 assists
• OG Anunoby: 29 points (10-of-20 FG, 6-of-11 3PT, 3-of-4 FT), 5 rebounds, 3 steals
• Josh Hart: 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Mikal Bridges: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
• Karl-Anthony Towns: 14 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block

Anunoby and Brunson combined for 43 of their 58 points after halftime, showcasing their value as clutch playoff performers. Hart was also integral, contributing on the glass and in transition.

New York has now won four consecutive playoff games on the road, tying a franchise record dating back to the 1999 playoff run, when they made the Finals as the 8th seed.

Celtics Falter Despite Tatum, Brown, and White

• Jayson Tatum: 23 points (7-of-23 FG, 4-of-15 3PT), 16 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals
• Jaylen Brown: 23 points (7-of-20 FG, 1-of-10 3PT, 8-of-10 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists
• Derrick White: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists
• Jrue Holiday: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists (returning from hamstring injury)

Though Tatum posted a double-double and flirted with a triple-double, his shooting woes hurt Boston. He made just one field goal in the fourth quarter and overtime (1-for-8) and was scoreless from beyond the arc in crunch time.

“We got the looks we wanted,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “We just didn’t knock them down. Credit to New York—they made it tough on us.”

The Celtics also dealt with health issues. Kristaps Porziņģis played just 13 minutes before exiting due to illness. Sam Hauser also went down with a sprained ankle early in the second quarter and did not return.

Despite those setbacks, Boston still had every opportunity to close out the game in regulation—and again in overtime—but execution and shot selection failed them.

What’s Next?

Game 2 of the series is set for Wednesday night at TD Garden. The Celtics will look to even the series before heading to Madison Square Garden for Games 3 and 4.

With the Knicks now holding momentum and the psychological edge, all pressure shifts to Boston. Historically, teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series go on to win the series 76% of the time, per Basketball Reference.

If Porziņģis and Hauser remain out or limited, Boston may need to lean more heavily on Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and its bench.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are thriving in the underdog role and playing with the grit and poise of a team with nothing to lose.

“We love being counted out,” Anunoby said. “This group doesn’t care about narratives. We just go out and play for each other.”

Final Thoughts

This opening contest between the Knicks and Celtics was a showcase of postseason drama—momentum swings, star performances, and crunch-time brilliance. But above all, it was a story of resilience. New York took Boston’s best punch, weathered the storm, and hit back harder.

With the series still in its early stages, there’s a lot of basketball left to play. But if Game 1 is any indication, this could be an Eastern Conference classic in the making.

Stay tuned for updates after Game 2.