The New York Knicks are on the doorstep of their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years after a pivotal 121-113 victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 4 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. But the final moments of the game delivered both celebration and concern, as Celtics star Jayson Tatum collapsed to the floor with a potentially serious right leg injury.
Tatum’s injury, which occurred with just under three minutes remaining, added a devastating blow to a Boston team already in desperate straits. Attempting to chase down a loose ball after a turnover, Tatum’s leg appeared to give out as he lunged forward. He remained on the floor in visible pain before being carried off by teammates. The extent of the injury remains unclear, but the urgency of the situation could not be more obvious: the Celtics now face a 3-1 series deficit and may have to attempt a historic comeback without their best player.
Tatum was brilliant before the injury, scoring a playoff-high 42 points and doing everything he could to keep Boston’s hopes alive. Yet even his heroics weren’t enough to withstand another furious fourth-quarter surge by Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
Brunson was again sensational, finishing with 39 points and 12 assists. The All-Star guard scored 18 points in a third quarter that saw the Knicks erase an 11-point halftime deficit, outscoring Boston 37-23 in the period. New York’s starters played the entire third, sending a clear message that head coach Tom Thibodeau was leaving nothing to chance.
From there, it was a classic Madison Square Garden finish. After Tatum tied the game at 102 with a three-point play, OG Anunoby responded with a timely three-pointer. Then came the dagger: an 11-0 Knicks run that made it 116-104 and put the game out of reach.
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 23 points for New York, while Anunoby bounced back from two subpar performances to contribute 20 points and tough defense. It was the kind of balanced, hard-nosed effort that has defined this Knicks team all postseason.
For the Celtics, Derrick White added 23 points and six made threes, and Jaylen Brown chipped in 20. Boston, which had built double-digit leads in each of the first four games, once again failed to sustain it — a troubling trend that now has them on the brink of elimination.
New York also became the first home team to win a game in this series, a critical breakthrough after the road team took each of the first three contests. With Game 5 set for Wednesday night at TD Garden, the Knicks have two chances to close out the series — one in Boston and another, if needed, back home on Friday night.
Historically, teams trailing 3-1 have little hope. Just 13 have ever come back to win a best-of-seven series in NBA history. The Celtics would need to become the 14th — and do it potentially without Tatum. No team has overcome a 3-1 deficit by winning a true road Game 7 since the Cavaliers toppled the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The path forward for Boston is perilous. For New York, the moment is within reach. One more win, and the Knicks will play for the Eastern Conference crown — something not seen in the Big Apple since 2000.
And thanks to Brunson and company, they can almost taste it.
