Celtics Trail 2-0 After Loss to Knicks in Game 2

The Boston Celtics suffered a historic collapse in the first two games of their Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, blowing 20-point leads in both home games and now trailing 2-0 in the series. Mikal Bridges' clutch defense and late-game heroics, along with Jalen Brunson's timely scoring, powered consecutive improbable Knicks comebacks, including a 38-17 run to close Game 2. The Celtics' over-reliance on three-point shooting—managing only 25% on 100 attempts—combined with poor late-game execution, including a critical turnover by Jayson Tatum and a controversial decision by coach Joe Mazzulla not to call a timeout, have left fans and analysts deeply frustrated. Tatum, despite a stellar regular season, has struggled mightily in this series, shooting just 12-for-42 across the two games. The losses mark the first time in NBA history a team has lost consecutive postseason games after leading by 20 or more, intensifying scrutiny of Boston's composure and coaching. The series now moves to New York, where the Celtics must regroup to keep their championship defense alive.