The Boston Celtics entered the series as defending champions and heavy favorites. Still, after two brutal losses at home to the surging New York Knicks, their title defense is teetering on the edge of collapse. Wednesday night’s 91-90 loss at TD Garden marked the second straight game where the Celtics squandered a 20-point lead — and this time, it ended with Mikal Bridges ripping the ball from Jayson Tatum as the final buzzer sounded.
TD Garden fell into stunned silence. What was once a roaring crowd hoping for a late-game miracle turned into a wave of fans streaming for the exits, shaken by the reality that Boston is now down 0-2 heading to Madison Square Garden. It’s unfamiliar territory for a team that went 16-3 during last year’s playoff run en route to a championship.
This wasn’t just another loss. It was a collapse. Again. The Celtics dominated early for the second straight game, built a double-digit lead, and then fell apart when it mattered most. Their offense stalled, their defense unraveled, and their poise vanished under the pressure of a Knicks team playing fearless, opportunistic basketball.
Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back after the game. “Being up 20 in both games and coming out with two losses is inexcusable,” he said. “We missed layups, we missed open threes, and we let them make the hustle plays. That can’t happen again.”
History is now against the Celtics. According to the TNT broadcast, road teams that go up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 30 of 35 times — an 85.7% success rate. The Knicks are firmly in control, while Boston must now try to claw its way out of an ominous hole in hostile territory.
To make matters worse, this continues a troubling pattern for recent NBA champions. The past five title-holders have all failed to advance past the second round the following postseason. The Nuggets, Warriors, Bucks, and others have all stumbled. Now the Celtics are at risk of joining that club.
In both games, Boston’s problems have come down to execution and composure. Open shots haven’t fallen. Defensive rotations have been slow. And when the moment has demanded toughness, it’s the Knicks — not the champs — who’ve delivered. Whether it’s Josh Hart hitting a clutch three, or Isaiah Hartenstein grabbing an extra rebound, New York has simply wanted it more.
Kristaps Porzingis, who has battled through injury and inconsistency, struck a defiant tone postgame. “We’ve got our backs against the wall now,” he said. “There’s no pressure anymore. If anything, the pressure’s on them to keep this going. We just have to play like we’ve got nothing to lose.”
The Celtics will now need to channel all their playoff experience, grit, and pride to avoid going down 3-0 — a deficit no NBA team has ever come back from. Game 3 in New York is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, and it already feels like a must-win.
For the Knicks, this isn’t just about winning — it’s about rewriting their narrative. A team that’s often overlooked and underestimated has come into Boston and outplayed the reigning champions on both ends of the floor. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has his squad locked in and believing.
The series isn’t over, but the Celtics are out of excuses. They’ve lost their composure, lost home-court advantage, and now face a hostile crowd in a city that smells blood. The champs are in trouble — and the Knicks are coming for the crown.