NEW YORK (AFP) — The New York Knicks rallied again from 20 points down to snatch a 91-90 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday as the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back in historic style in the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs.
After erasing a 20-point deficit in a gritty overtime triumph in Game 1, the Knicks authored another epic comeback to take a 2-0 lead over the defending NBA champion Celtics in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Western Conference top seeds Oklahoma City, stung by the Denver Nuggets’ comeback in game one, romped to a record-setting 87 points in the first half to set up a 149-106 victory that leveled their series at one game apiece.
In Boston, Mikal Bridges scored all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter for the Knicks and came up with a steal as Boston’s Jayson Tatum drove for a potential game-winning basket in the waning seconds.
Josh Hart led the Knicks with 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 17 rebounds.
Jalen Brunson scored 17 points and delivered again when it mattered. His fadeaway jumper with 1:59 to play gave New York their first lead of the game, 87-86.
And after Tatum raced the length of the court for a dunk that put the Celtics up 90-89 with 18.5 seconds left, Brunson drilled a pair of free throws to put the Knicks back on top.
“I’m just happy we found a way to win,” Brunson told broadcaster TNT.
“That’s some wild stuff right there.”
Boston, with 20 points apiece from Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, led, 73-53, late in the third quarter.
But Brown scored just three points in the second half and 14 straight missed baskets by Boston in the fourth quarter gave the Knicks the only opening they needed.
Bridges produced a victory-sealing steal for the second straight game and credited his teammates with keeping him going when he was struggling.
“It’s really truly them, just holding me together and keeping me mentally right and just telling me to keep going,” he said.