The New York Knicks are now just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals after pulling off yet another dazzling second-half rally, defeating the Boston Celtics 121-113 in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.
For the third time in four games, the Knicks flipped the script after halftime. Trailing by 14 early in the third quarter, they surged back behind a dominant performance from Jalen Brunson, who poured in 39 points and dished out 12 assists. Mikal Bridges added 23 points of his own, including several clutch buckets down the stretch. New York outscored Boston by 22 points over the final 21 minutes, continuing a stunning trend of late-game dominance that has defined this series.
With the win, the Knicks now hold a commanding 3-1 lead and have a chance to close out the series Wednesday night in Boston. The momentum — and the pressure — is all on the Celtics, who were once expected to cruise past New York and are now on the brink of collapse.
Boston’s Jayson Tatum tried to carry the load with 42 points in a high-effort performance, but the night ended in disaster. Late in the fourth quarter, Tatum collapsed to the floor without contact, clutching his lower right leg in obvious pain. The All-Star forward had to be helped off the court, casting serious doubt over his availability moving forward — and quite possibly, the Celtics’ hopes of survival in this series.
Meanwhile, the Garden was electric. Fans roared as the Knicks stormed back to life in the second half. OG Anunoby chipped in with timely defense, and the Knicks won the battle on the glass — a category Boston had dominated earlier in the series. Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s squad once again showed the grit, intensity, and poise that has fueled their improbable playoff run.
As the final buzzer sounded, chants of “Knicks in five” echoed throughout the arena — a reality that once seemed unthinkable when the series began. This marks the first time since 2000 that New York has been this close to a conference finals appearance, and if Game 5 goes their way, the Knicks will officially rewrite the script on this season’s playoff narrative.
With the Celtics reeling and Tatum’s health in serious doubt, the Knicks have a golden opportunity to finish what they started and send a message to the rest of the league: this team is for real.