The Boston Celtics find themselves in unfamiliar territory, down 2-0 at home in the Eastern Conference semifinals after two stunning comebacks by the New York Knicks.
In both Game 1 and Game 2, Boston built commanding 20-point leads only to watch them vanish under the weight of their own mistakes and New York’s relentless late-game execution.
What’s behind the Celtics’ collapse?
The Knicks have made NBA history with their resilience, becoming the first team ever to erase 20-point deficits in consecutive playoff games.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have landed on the wrong side of the record books, joining the 1996-97 Clippers as the only team to suffer such collapses twice in one postseason.
In clutch time, defined as the final five minutes of a game within five points, New York has thrived, while Boston has faltered badly.
Boston’s issues in crunch time have been glaring.
They own a -26.7 net rating in those key moments and are shooting just 24.1% from the field and 9.1% from beyond the arc during those stretches, the lowest marks of any playoff team this year.
The Celtics’ offense tightens up when it matters most, and their go-to players are struggling to deliver.
Much of Boston’s trouble stems from the absence, or diminished presence, of Kristaps Porziis.
Battling through illness, Porziis has played limited minutes in both games, removing a key floor spacer and interior defender from the Celtics’ rotation.
Without him, the Knicks’ bigs are clogging the paint and challenging shots without fear of outside punishment.
Jayson Tatum, expected to be the best player in this series, hasn’t met that standard.
He’s scored just 36 points on 42 shots and failed to impose his will late in games.
While Jaylen Brown and Porziis have physical excuses, Tatum’s quiet fourth quarters have been a major concern, especially in Game 2 where he shot just 1-of-5 in the final period.
Credit must also go to New York.
Their defensive core, led by Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson, has tightened the screws when Boston appears ready to run away.
Josh Hart has been everywhere, and Jalen Brunson, the league’s Clutch Player of the Year, continues to come through when it counts most.
For Boston to climb back into the series, it starts with cleaner execution and a more assertive Tatum.
They’ll need smarter decision-making in clutch time, stronger bench production, and, most critically, a healthy Porziis presence.
Otherwise, this series may slip away before they ever truly get going.
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