Knicks Come from 20 Down to Grab Game 1. NY 108 Boston 105 in OT

May 6, 2025 LouV 2024-25 0

The Knicks were down 20 points in the 3rd quarter and Boston wasn’t even hitting their 3’s well – when NY launched a furious comeback – OG Anunoby hitting consecutive 3’s to breathe life in the Knicks and start a 9-0 run. They continued the comeback throughout the 4th quarter, with Miles McBride and OG Anunoby hitting 3’s and then Jalen Brunson taking over down the stretch – hitting consecutive 3’s to put NY ahead.

Boston fought back in a dogfight to the end – with a Jalen Brunson runner rimming out at the buzzer to force Overtime.

And in Overtime, Mikal Bridges rose up – first with a steal to start the period, leading to an OG dunk-and-1, then shaking off a 2-12 shooting night to hit a huge 3 in the final minute, and finally coming up with a huge steal in the final seconds to win it.

NY 108 Boston 105 on a Monday night in Boston.

  • Brunson and OG both finished with 29 pts – OG with 6-11 shooting from 3 (10-20 overall) and tremendous defense;
  • KAT had 14 pts and 13 rebounds despite foul trouble;
  • Josh Hart had his usual glue game with 14 pts, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and defense;
  • Bridges had 8 pts but tremendous Defense all night and the big plays in OT;
  • Miles McBride had 11 pts including 3-6 from 3; and
  • Mitchell Robinson played 21 important minutes, with 7 rebounds.
  • Precious Achiuwa and Cameron Payne also saw a few minutes of action.

“I was just watching his eyes. I’m a football guy,” said Mikal Bridges on the final steal.

1. Knicks Come Out Strong

The Knicks came out strong and played even with the Celtics in the 1st quarter. Miles McBride was hitting his 3 – which was great news for NY has he had struggled with his shot in the Detroit series. Boston led 26-25 after 1 period.

2. KAT & Knicks Early Foul Trouble as Refs Call It Tight

NY was coming off the very physical Detroit series – and came out looking to play the same physical ball, expecting the refs to be “allowing the boys to play” as has been the NBA’s edict this year.

But not these refs. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up 2 quick fouls and Mitchell Robinson was brought in with 7 minutes left in the 1st. KAT would pick up a 3rd (and dubious) foul early in the 2nd quarter and be in foul trouble most of the night. Josh Hart also picked up quick fouls in the 1st, as did Brunson.

“It took us a little while to figure out how this series is gonna be,” said Josh Hart afterwards. “We got beat with bats for six games, so we brought our bats here.”

3. Knicks Miss Free Throws, Including Hack-A-Mitch

Boston initiated the hack-a-Mitch strategy as soon as Mitchell Robinson entered the game – and he kept missing free throws. He went 1-4 in the 1st quarter, and missed more in the 2nd – going 3-10 from the free throw line in the game.

And he wasn’t the only Knick to miss free throws – Josh Hart (3-6 in free throws) and Cameron Payne (0-2 in free throws) were also missing them as were Brunson and OG early – although they finished strong (Brunson was 6-7 in free throws; OG was 3-4).

4. Porzingis Leaves with the Flu

Kristaps Porzingis was playing with the flu, and was out of sorts from the beginning – going 0-4 from the floor and leaving in the 2nd quarter after playing 13 minutes. He would not return.

5. Boston Surges at End of 2nd; Takes 16-Pt Halftime Lead

A Josh Hart drive put NY up 31-30 as the game went back and forth at the start of the 2nd. The score was 40-38 Boston with 7:34 left in the half, when an 8-0 Boston run led by Jaylen Brown hit back-to-back buckets put them up 48-38.

Brunson answered with a 3, Payton Pritchard made 3 of 4 free throws after being fouled on consecutive plays, and Brunson hit a 19-footer to pull NY within 8 at 53-45 with 2:17 left.

But the Knicks didn’t finish the quarter well – old friend Luke Kornet scored inside, and Jaylen Brown made 3 straight buckets at the end of the half to put Boston up by 16 – 61-45.

6. Boston Up by 75-55 in 3rd, Despite Missing 3’s

Boston kept firing up 3’s and missing – they would go 15-60 from the 3-pt line. Derrick White was 5-16 from 3, Jayson Tatum was 4-15 from 3, Jrue Holiday was 2-7 from 3, Jaylen Brown was 1-10 from 3, Al Horford was 1-5 from 3. Only Payton Pritchard shot well from 3 with 2-5 shooting.

Some of that was due to the defense of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and the Knick defense, which forced Boston into rushed shots.

“Chalk it up to shooting luck, there was some of that, but NYK’s wings — especially Anunoby/Bridges — were *awesome* darting in + out of driving lanes when JT/JB attacked mismatches, then flying out to shooters,” said NBA Analyst Zach Lowe afterwards. “There is a difference b/w fly-by 3s and clean catch-shoot 3s.”

Even with that, Boston built a 75-55 lead with 5:47 left in the 3rd after two Derrick White 3’s sandwiching an Al Horford dunk.

The Knicks looked like they had no answer for the Celtics.

7. OG Leads 9-0 Run to Get NY Back in Game

And then they did. OG Anunoby hit back-to-back 3’s to give NY life. A Mitchell Robinson free throw and a Jalen Brunson 6-footer made it a 9-0 NY run to pull them within 11 in a quick minute and a half.

Jayson Tatum fired back with a 3, Brunson responded with a deuce, Tatum hit another 3, but Josh Hart and OG answered with buckets and Brunson hit a 3 and NY was within 81-74.

8. McBride, OG, & KAT Continue Knick Run in 4th

An Al Horford 3 at the end of the 3rd quarter caused Celtic fans to roar and gave Boston a 9-pt lead entering the 4th – but the Knicks were just beginning their comeback.

Miles McBride hit another huge 3 to start the 4th, then Karl-Anthony Towns put back an offensive rebound off a McBride miss and NY was within 4 pts.

OG Anunoby hit a 3 and NY was within 1 point.

The game went back and forth until an OG steal off Tatum and runaway dunk tied the score at 86-86 with 7:26 left.

9. Brunson Takes Over Down Stretch

Jalen Brunson took over for NY down the frenetic stretch – with Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown getting big buckets for Boston, and Brunson answering with three 3’s – including consecutive 3’s to put NY ahead 97-91 with 3:28 left.

But Boston was not going away. They kept getting serendipity offensive rebounds off missed 3’s that bounded out – especially picked up by Jrue Holiday.

Brown and Tatum got to the line for 4 straight free throws, and Derrick White hit a HUGE 3 to put Boston back up, 98-97.

OG responded with a HUGE 3 putting NY up 100-98!

But Holiday hit a drive off a Brown assist and it was a tie game at 100-all with 53 seconds left.
In the final minute, OG missed a 3, then Tatum missed a 3 with 9 seconds left and NY had the ball with a chance to win and 5.1 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, NY ran a play with KAT finding Brunson for a runner – but the ball rimmed out.

10. Mikal Stars in OT

And then came OT when Mikal Bridges – 2-12 on the night but playing tremendous defense – stepped up. To begin the period he stole the ball on a pass to Jaylen Brown, and while falling out of bounds fed Josh Hart who fed OG Anunoby for a dunk-and-1 and NY was up 103-100.

Bridges then Nailed a CLUTCH 3-pointer from the left side and NY was up 106-100 with 2:30 left.
Tatum hit a bucket, but KAT came up with a HUGE offensive rebound and putback off a Brunson miss and NY was up 108-102 with 1:47 left.

Jaylen Brown hit a 3 to make it a 108-105 game – and Brunson missed a runner – but the Knicks got another big stop; Brown with a missed drive and KAT with the rebound.

Hart missed a 3 and Boston had a final chance to tie the game with 17 seconds left.

The Knicks played tough D, and KAT fouled Brown on purpose with 3.1 seconds left – at first it looked like it might be in the act of shooting but replays showed a clear-intent foul before Brown gathered to take a shot.

On the final play – with Mitchell Robinson and his long arms annoying the in bounds – the pass intended for Jaylen Brown was swiped away from his hands by Mikal Bridges for the ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401769746

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