Basketball world reacts to Knicks’ comeback win over Celtics

The Knicks-Celtics sequel was very similar to the original.

Same cast. Same plot. Same ending.

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The Celtics go up by 20 in the third quarter, the Knicks chip away and take a late lead, Mikal Bridges makes a defensive stop to seal the win, the Knicks celebrate on Boston's home court, and Knicks fans celebrate in the streets of Manhattan.

History repeated itself on Wednesday as the Knicks erased a 20-point deficit and defeated the Celtics 91-90 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York, which also erased a 20-point third quarter deficit in Game 1 en route to a 108-105 win, return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 series lead over the heavily-favored defending champions.

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Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 12.7 seconds left for a 91-90 lead. Jayson Tatum was then unable to get a shot off after being stifled by OG Anunoby and Bridges, who batted the ball away just before the buzzer.

That made the Knicks the first team to comeback from a 20-point deficit and win in consecutive postseason games, per TNT, and the first team to do so in any two games within a single series since at least 1998, according to ESPN.

The historic comebacks for New York and collapses for Boston caused an uproar on social media....

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KNICKS' COMEBACKS VS. CELTICS THIS SERIES HAVE BEEN UNREAL 😱

IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER 🍿 pic.twitter.com/1hqITPNuhX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 8, 2025

tfw your team won game 2 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lLcaa5pnJm
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 8, 2025

Knicks fans watching Game 2 pic.twitter.com/0tRO6CsZ0W
— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) May 8, 2025

🫡 @mikal_bridges https://t.co/8zjdkgjag2 pic.twitter.com/kJh2VVcFPo
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025

Yankee Stadium just went nuts over the Knicks win in the eighth inning. pic.twitter.com/LwgCgwCFFR
— Brendan Kuty 🧟‍♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) May 8, 2025

We're up 2-0 against the Celtics and going back to MSG

IS THIS REAL LIFE???? pic.twitter.com/wZ7vqHvnsq
— Knicks Union 🗽 (@knicks_union) May 8, 2025

the Knicks gameplan pic.twitter.com/U3qk0UFhHj
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) May 8, 2025

“The Celtics won’t shoot that poorly from three again.”

“The Knicks didn’t win it, the Celtics lost it.”

“This will still be a gentlemen’s sweep.”

I wonder what they will say tomorrow.
— Shawn (with a W) (@shawnwithaW_) May 8, 2025

Don’t understand why TNT showed a replay of Knicks-Celtics game 1 tonight
— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway3d) May 8, 2025

Celtics vs Knicks Series Summary pic.twitter.com/ee57Iv6dIE
— Dr. Profit🩺 (@DoctorProfit) May 8, 2025

Someone forgot to tell Knicks they couldn’t beat Celtics
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 8, 2025

I've never bought completely into Jayson Tatum, and less so after tonight. Star, but no superstar.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 8, 2025

Everyone: The Celtics can't shoot worse than they did in Game 1

The Celtics: pic.twitter.com/imk5I6mQJB
— Xanny DeVito (@trevorstweetss) May 7, 2025

Probably won’t be buying Celts/Knicks Game 2 on blu-ray.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 8, 2025

“Aren’t you worried being down 0-2 to the Knicks?”

Me: pic.twitter.com/WJVW6Yg9D5
— 𝙍𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙮 ☘️ (@CelticsRiley) May 8, 2025

Celtics had a 98% win probability in Game 1 and lost.

Celtics had a 99% win probability in Game 2 and lost.

Thunder had a 98% win probability in Game 1 and lost.

Cavaliers had a 98% win probability in Game 2 and lost.

And that's all in the last 48 hours.
— Zach Kram (@zachkram) May 8, 2025

Playoff games in which the Knicks trailed by 20 points and came back to win over the previous 30 years:
Zero

Playoff games in which the Knicks trailed by 20 points and came back to win over the past three days:
Two
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 8, 2025

Credit to the Knicks another HUGE W!!! God Bless America
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 8, 2025

BREAKING: Knicks-Celtics Game 3 is the most expensive New York Knicks game on record.

The current get-in price is $704 🤯

(Ticket prices via @TickPick) pic.twitter.com/3D03smyxxK
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 8, 2025

The Celtics should have to give 5/6 of their championships back. Humiliating L.
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) May 8, 2025

Yooooo.. are we really getting a Knicks vs Pacers Eastern Conference Finals? pic.twitter.com/ebjBazDrXN
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) May 8, 2025