The Boston Celtics are in serious trouble following a stunning twist of fate in their playoff series against the New York Knicks. Having dominated the regular season with a 4-0 sweep of the Knicks, Boston has now lost two straight 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 of the playoffs — both defeats that have left fans and pundits perplexed.
Game 1 had the Celtics burst to a 23-point lead, only to come apart under defensive urgency and clutch shooting by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. The fade was again the case in Game 2, when Boston built a 20-point lead, only to see the Knicks charge back in the fourth quarter to reveal the lack of poise and depth on the Celtics’ bench.
Critics are blaming Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla for suspicious lineups and failure to make in-game adjustments, while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been faulted for unpredictable fourth-quarter play. Defensive meltdowns, poor transition offense, and turnovers have also contributed to Celtics’ problems.
Now down 0-2 in the series and traveling to Madison Square Garden, the Celtics have a must-win Game 3 in front of them. With momentum in New York’s favor and the Garden crowd likely to be electric, Boston’s title hopes hang by a thread unless they can regroup and respond with urgency.
