Madison Square Garden erupted as the New York Knicks pulled off another miracle comeback to take down the Boston Celtics 102-98 in a thrilling Game 2 on Tuesday night, securing a commanding 2-0 lead in their playoff series.
The Knicks, once again finding themselves buried in a deep hole, rallied from a 20-point deficit with an electrifying display of grit and resilience. Julius Randle spearheaded the turnaround, posting 29 points and 15 rebounds to lead his team to a sensational victory.
"We just never gave up," Randle said post-game. "This team has a lot of heart, and we believe in each other. When we're down, that's when we dig even deeper."
The Celtics dominated the first half behind a flurry of threes from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who combined for 54 points. However, the Knicks' relentless defense in the fourth quarter proved too much, stifling Boston's offense and igniting a 14-2 run that shifted momentum.
Tom Thibodeau's squad showed their trademark tenacity, with crucial contributions from R.J. Barrett and Derrick Rose, who scored 22 and 18 points respectively. Their efforts, particularly on the defensive end, catalyzed the Knicks’ stunning revival.
As the buzzer sounded, the Garden faithful roared in approval, the echoes of "Let’s Go Knicks!" reverberating throughout the iconic arena. For the Celtics, the task looms large. They now face the daunting challenge of overcoming a two-game deficit as the series heads back to Boston.
The series resumes with Game 3 on Friday night at TD Garden, where the Celtics must regroup and respond to avoid falling into a potential 3-0 hole.
