The Boston Celtics will try to bounce back in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Knicks. The game will be played at TD Garden on Wednesday, May 7, with tipoff set for 7:00PM ET. Boston went 61-21 in the regular season and finished second in the East. New York was third at 51-31.
The Knicks lead the series 1-0 after a 108-105 overtime win in Game 1. New York trailed by 20 points in the third quarter before rallying to win. The last time Boston trailed in a playoff series was the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. This is the fifth meeting between the teams this season. The Knicks have won three of the last four.
BOS Preview – Celtics Look to Reset After Collapse
Boston struggled badly from the three-point line in Game 1. The Celtics went 15-for-60 from deep, and just 2-for-15 in the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to shoot 5-for-25 from beyond the arc, and the team had trouble creating inside looks late in the game.
Kristaps Porzingis left the game early in the second half with an illness and is listed as probable for Game 2. His absence was felt in both paint defense and floor spacing. Without him, Boston relied heavily on perimeter shooting and couldn’t generate many trips to the free-throw line. The Celtics shot only 14 free throws in the game.
Boston’s defense has been reliable all season, allowing just 106.4 points per game. The Celtics rank second in opponent field goal percentage at 44.9%. Their offense ranked top five in field goal percentage and points per game, but the Game 1 collapse shows they may need to adjust shot selection. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White combined for 35 points and 17 rebounds in Game 1 and will need to maintain that effort.
NYK Preview – Knicks Aim to Keep Momentum Rolling
New York pulled off a comeback win thanks to strong second-half play and big performances from key players. OG Anunoby scored 29 points, while Jalen Brunson also had 29. The Knicks shot 10-of-23 from three and held Boston to just 41.7% shooting from the floor.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds but played limited minutes due to foul trouble. Josh Hart added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges contributed 8 points and 7 assists. The Knicks had five players score in double figures and kept Boston to only 11 second-chance points.
New York’s defense has been key in the postseason. They held Boston under their season average in scoring and limited clean looks late in the game. The Knicks were poor from the free-throw line, going just 17-for-31, but made up for it with better rebounding and transition defense. The team has now hit the first quarter moneyline in 17 of their last 20 games.
Betting Prediction
Boston is listed as a 12-point favorite for Game 2 with the total set at 209. The spread is up from Game 1, where the Celtics closed as 9-point favorites. The Knicks have now covered in three straight games against Boston, including back-to-back overtime wins in April and May.
Game 1 went over the closing total of 213 by a single bucket in overtime. With both teams struggling at the free-throw line and Boston’s shooting woes, the total has dropped for Game 2. If Porzingis returns, expect more inside play from Boston. Still, the Knicks match up well and should keep this game close. Final score prediction: Celtics 106, Knicks 101.
Pick: Knicks +12
