Celtics Stumble Once More in Game 2 vs. Knicks—But Their Confident Message Hints at a Surprising Comeback Ahead

Boston’s TD Garden turned into a chamber of shattered hopes again, as the Celtics watched yet another massive lead slip through their fingers — their second time surrendering a 20-point advantage to the surging New York Knicks in this East semifinal series. Jaylen Brown? He sat motionless, eyes locked on a locker plaque quoting Phil Jackson: “You're only a success at the moment you perform a successful act. You have to do it again.” That’s where Boston stands now, desperately needing to replicate winning moments they seemingly can’t hold onto. Down 0-2 and heading to the Garden’s fiercest rival on their own turf, they carry the heavy weight of back-to-back heartbreaks. These Knicks aren’t here to respect past championships, and from Kristaps Porziņģis’ blunt words — “Nobody feels sorry for us” — to Jalen Brunson’s ice-cold late-game heroics, New York has stripped Boston of confidence play after play. The Celtics are stuck in a gnarly mental quagmire of near misses and “what-ifs,” with the specter of blown leads looming larger than ever. And now? The question freezes in the air — how do you bounce back when history’s repeating itself in the cruelest ways? Boston’s got no choice but to stare down that challenge, take a breath…and start executing. The clock’s ticking. LEARN MORE.

In fact, the Knicks may take everything from these Celtics. They did in Game 2, as they did in Game 1, storming back from a 20-point, third-quarter deficit. It looked the same, though it didn’t feel the same. This was not Monday, when the Celtics settled for too many 3-pointers and got too comfortable with their advantage. They were uncomfortable with Wednesday’s lead, hesitant to take those same shots.AdvertisementNor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

Nor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

Nor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

Nor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

Nor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

Nor did he get to explain himself after the game, as a fire alarm evacuated TD Garden at 10:30 p.m., just as he was set to begin his press availability. It was a fitting end to two miserable shooting performances for all of the Celtics — but especially Tatum, who scored 13 points on 19 shots. It should have been 20.

“What’s done is done,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to come out for Game 3. I think we’re due for a lot of makes. I think we had a lot of great shots tonight that didn’t go in. We’ve just got to relax, take a deep breath and play Celtics basketball. Just like we’re down 0-2, we can tie this thing back up.”AdvertisementThen there was Brown, staring at his locker, soaking in the emotion. What was going through his head?