Another comeback complete.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks leave TD Garden to head to Madison Square Garden up 2-0.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
May 8, 2025
They Did It Again: NY rallies for a 2nd straight win in Boston to open East Semis
Historic Start: The 2025 Playoffs are already making their mark on the record books
Knicks Up 2-0: After Boston swept NY this season, Knicks open series with 2 road wins
Thunderous Statement: After dropping Game 1, OKC bounces back with huge win
Warriors-Wolves: How will each team respond to adversity in tonight’s Game 2?
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Yesterday’s scores & what to watch today…
Tonight on TNT (8:30 ET), the Warriors and Wolves get the spotlight as the only game on the Playoff calendar. Can the Warriors take a 2-0 lead back to the Bay? Or will the Wolves bounce back to even the series?
1. NEW YORK RALLIES AGAIN TO TAKE 2-0 LEAD
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and Celtics played out eerily similar to Monday’s Game 1.
A 20-point deficit in the 3rd quarter
A huge rally in the 4th quarter
Taking the lead in the final five minutes
A game-sealing steal by Mikal Bridges
A road win for New York in Boston
History Made: The Knicks are the first team in NBA history to complete a 20-point comeback in consecutive Playoff games. | Watch the Comeback
It was the NBA’s third straight night with a 20+ point comeback – that’s a first
It was the fifth 20+ point comeback of these Playoffs – the most in any year in the play-by-play era (since 1998)
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m just happy we found a way to win, that’s some wild stuff right there,” said Jalen Brunson, who scored New York’s final six points – including a jumper with 1:59 left, giving the Knicks their first lead and sinking a pair of clutch free throws to put NY up for good with 12.7 ticks left.
While Brunson scored NY’s final six points of the game, it was Mikal Bridges who did most of the heavy lifting in the rally. Scoreless through three quarters, Bridges erupted for 14 points in the 4th, but for the second straight game, his biggest play came on defense
After Brunson’s FTs put the Knicks up one with 12.7 to play, the Celtics elected not to call timeout. Instead, they got the ball in Jayson Tatum’s hands and let him go to work…
He got a switch onto 7-footer Mitchell Robinson on the perimeter and drove against him to the left. OG Anunoby helped off Al Horford to stop Tatum, who stepped back and rose up, looking for a kick-out pass to Jaylen Brown…
Instead, it was Bridges who swallowed up the pass – with the same tenacity that he ripped the ball away from Brown in Game 1 – and launched it to the other end as the clock expired
“Defensively, he has the ability to change the whole course of a game,” said Josh Hart of Bridges
The Knicks were 0-9 this season when trailing by 20+ points. They are now 2-0 in their last two games – both on the road with the stakes raised in the Playoffs.
“We’ll always have the belief in each other… it’s about your mental toughness, your defense, and your teamwork,” said Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau about his squad on Wednesday.
2. 2025 PLAYOFFS OFF TO HISTORIC START
David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images
In the first 19 days into the 2025 NBA Playoffs we’ve seen…
5 20+ comebacks (the most in a single Playoffs of the play-by-play era)
5 game-winning shots in the final 10 seconds (the most in a single Playoffs in the past 10 years, also including the first-ever buzzer-beating dunk)
24 road wins (including the first-ever 4-0 sweep in Game 1 of Round 2; road teams are 6-1 in the Conference Semifinals)
16 games decided by 3 points or less (most in a single Playoffs in the last 10 years, 5th most of the play-by-play era)
…and we’re still not even halfway through the second round.
Before tonight’s Wolves-Warriors Game 2, let’s take a look back at the history we’ve seen unfold so far with some of our favorite frames and gifs.
The Comebacks
April 24: Thunder-Grizzlies (Round 1, Game 3): The Thunder trailed by 29 with 3:07 left in the 1st half before outscoring the Grizzlies 74-39 to complete the second-largest comeback of the play-by-play era
April 29: Pacers-Bucks (Round 1, Game 5): Indy trailed by 20 early in the 2nd quarter before using a 39-18 run over the next 14:23 of game time to take their first lead, setting up a back-and-forth 2nd half and a thrilling overtime finish (more on that below)
Monday: Knicks-Celtics (Round 2, Game 1): NY opened the series the same way they had in three of their four regular-season losses to Boston – down 20 points. This time, the Knicks used a 42-16 run to complete the comeback and eventually secure the OT win on a Mikal Bridges steal.
Tuesday, Pacers-Cavs (Round 2, Game 2): Not only did Indy trail by 20 with 6:27 left in the 3rd quarter, the Pacers were down seven with 48 seconds left before ending the game on an 8-0 run, capped off by Tyrese Haliburton’s second game-winner in a week
Wednesday, Knicks-Celtics (Round 2, Game 2): The Knicks erased a second straight 20-point 3rd-quarter Boston lead, with Mikal Bridges scoring 14 points in the 4th and coming up with his second straight game-sealing steal.
The Game-Winners
Nuggets-Clippers (Round 1, Game 4): Aaron Gordon caught a missed jumper by Nikola Jokić and threw down the first buzzer-beating game-winning dunk of the play-by-play era to tie the series, which Denver would win in seven games
Pacers-Bucks (Round 1, Game 5): Tyrese Haliburton’s driving layup with 1.3 seconds left capped off an 8-0 run in the final 40 seconds of OT to stun the Bucks and win the series 4-1
Knicks-Pistons (Round 1, Game 6): Two days after Haliburton’s series clincher, NY’s Jalen Brunson did the same to Detroit, ending an 11-1 run with a pull-up 3 with 4.3 seconds left. It was the 7th game-clinching bucket in the final six seconds over the past 15 Playoffs
Nuggets-Thunder (Round 2, Game 1): Gordon strikes again! After a missed OKC free throw with 9.5 seconds left, Christian Braun grabbed the rebound and pushed it up to Russell Westbrook, who hit Gordon with a cross-court pass for a wing 3 that splashed with 2.8 left
Pacers-Cavs (Round 2, Game 2): Haliburton strikes again! Down by 3 with 12.4 seconds left, Halliburton had two free throws. He made the first, then missed the second, secured his own rebound, retreated back beyond the 3-point line, and got to his spot for a stepback 3 with 1.1 left
3. KNICKS TAKE COMMANDING 2-0 LEAD AND HEAD BACK HOME
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks have defeated the Celtics more times in the past three days (twice) than they did in the previous two years (once).
Boston swept the season series with New York – leading the four games by as many as 35, 35, 27 and 7 points, respectively – and entered the East Semis having won eight of the last nine matchups
In their first postseason series since 2013, the Knicks have shown their resilience, not allowing 20-point leads to balloon to 30+, but instead battled back to pull off massive comebacks
That’s what they did on Wednesday for the second straight game in this series to take a 2-0 series lead back home as the series shifts to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday (3:30 ET, ABC)
Knicks 91 Celtics 90: Trailing by 20 with 3:12 left in the 3rd quarter, the Knicks outscored the Celtics 38-17 over the final 15 minutes – including a game-ending 23-6 run that saw NY take its first lead of the game with under two minutes left. | Recap
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Full Team Effort: While it was Brunson with NY’s final six points and Bridges who fronted the 4th-quarter charge with 14 points, it was Josh Hart who led the Knicks with 23 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted a 21-17 double-double
Defense Shines: New York held Boston to 90 points or less for the first time since 2021; only one other team kept the defending champs under 90 all season long
Road Knicks: New York won consecutive Playoff games at Boston’s TD Garden for the first time in franchise history
When It Matters Most: The Knicks are trying to become the 8th team to win a Playoff series against a team that swept them in the regular season (min. 4 games). The only team to do it in the past decade was the 2019 Blazers against OKC
What History Says: Teams that win the first two games of a best-of-seven series on the road go on to win the series 85.7% of the time (30-5)
Double 20s: Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scored 20 points to lead the Celitcs, who also got 13 points (5-of-19 FG), 14 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals from Jayson Tatum.
Double 25s: The Celtics shot 10-of-40 (25%) from 3-point range in Game 2, following their 15-of-60 (25%) in Game 1, dropping them to 1-6 on the season when shooting 25% or less from beyond the arc.
Joshua Gateley/Getty Images
How would the Thunder respond to their first loss of the postseason and only their seventh home loss of the entire season?
How about a near-perfect start to Game 2?
OKC dropped 45 points on 15-of-21 shooting in the 1st quarter and ended the 1st half with an NBA Playoff record 87 points on 58.8% FG, 43.5% 3P, 94.4% FT shooting splits as they led by 31 points.
In a Playoffs filled with huge comebacks, OKC didn’t let up, winning the 3rd 37-20. The Thunder led by as many as 49 points and won by 43 – still eight points shy of their largest win of this postseason.
Thunder 149, Nuggets 106: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (34 pts, 11-13 FG, 8 ast) and Jalen Williams (17 pts, 7 ast) led eight players in double figures as the Thunder rolled to a Game 2 win to even the series 1-1. | Recap
Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images
Here Comes SGA: After averaging 21.0 ppg on 33.3% shooting in OKC’s first two Playoff games, the scoring champ has dropped four straight 30+ point games, averaging 34.0 ppg on 51.7% shooting
Franchise Best: OKC set a franchise-record with 149 points, while their 43-point win was only topped by this year’s 51-point victory in Game 1 vs. Memphis, making OKC the first team with multiple 40+ point wins in a single Playoff run
Denver Duo: Russell Westbrook (19 pts, 5 ast) and Nikola Jokić (17 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast) combined for 36 for the Nuggets before both teams played their reserves during the 4th quarter
What’s Next: Tied 1-1, the series shifts to the Mile High City for the next two games, beginning with Game 3 on Friday (10 ET, ESPN)
The Warriors and Wolves both enter tonight’s Game 2 facing a unique challenge.
For Golden State, it’s winning without Steph Curry, who has been ruled out for the next week with a hamstring strain. His earliest return would be Game 5
For Minnesota, it’s finding the 3-point stroke, which was reliable during the regular season (37.7%, 4th in NBA), but has yet to carry over to the Playoffs (30.2%, lowest among conference semifinalists)
David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Despite losing Curry in the 2nd quarter, the Warriors took Game 1 behind 24 points and five 3s from Buddy Hield and a near triple-double (20 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast) from Jimmy Butler III.
With talk of Batmans, Robins and Alfreds after Game 1, the Warriors may need to become the entire Justice League in Curry’s absence – getting contributions from many to try to make up for Steph’s impact.
Buddy Time: In five starts in eight games this Playoffs, Hield is averaging 15.2 points and 3.4 3s on 50% shooting from deep – well ahead of his 8.0 ppg, 2.0 3pg and 37.5% shooting as a reserve. Golden State is 9-5 when he plays 30+ minutes
‘Playoff Jimmy:’ Butler III has earned that nickname with his postseason prowess throughout his career. Without Steph, can Butler become the focal point of Golden State’s offense?
Draymond & Defense: Twice this postseason, coach Steve Kerr has called Green the best defender he’s ever seen in his life. In their five Playoff wins, the Warriors have allowed just 92.2 ppg, including holding Minnesota to 88 in Game 1
The X-Factor: Curry’s 35.1 minutes will be split among Warriors’ roster, giving opportunities for players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and more to meet the moment
Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images
When it comes to Minnesota’s shooting, it goes deeper than they just need to hit more 3s. It starts with the quality of the 3s they are creating.
During the regular season, the Wolves generated 36 3s per game that were either open (closest defender 4-6 ft away) or wide-open (closest defender 6+ ft away) and they shot 37.7% overall from 3
In Round 1, that number dropped to 33.6 open/wide-open looks and their 3-point percentage fell to 32.3%
In Game 1 of the West Semis, that number dropped to 28 open/wide-open looks and they shot just 17.7% from 3
How will Ant Edwards and the Wolves respond tonight? This season, Edwards has averaged 28.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 4.7 apg and 4.3 3pg on 40.2% 3P shooting following a loss, with the Wolves going 19-13 in those games.