The New York Knicks will be looking to go 3-1 up and take full control of the series when they go head to head with the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Monday night.
Defeat here puts the reigning NBA champion's chances of reaching back-to-back finals for the first time since 1978 on thin ice and they will journey to Madison Square Garden desperate to level matters, having slumped at home in the first two games.
Match preview
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In two of the most unpredicted results out of the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks left the Boston Celtics empty handed after two home games as they won the first two games of the series, including a one-point victory in Game 2 last Thursday.
Having trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter of the conference semis opening game, the Knicks fought back to end regulation time 100-100 and force overtime, where they outscored the Celtics 8-5 to take the game on in dramatic fashion.
Game 2 had a similar theme as the Boston Celtics saw their 16-point lead blown away in the fourth quarter, where they struggled to find the basket in clutch moments, missing 19 of their 24 shot attempts, before losing 91-90 at the TD Garden.
A potential sweep was too good to be true for the New York Knicks as they floundered in Game 3, losing 115-93 at the Madison Square Garden, with the Celtics leading from start to finish to secure their first wire-to-wire victory of the playoffs.
Jalen Brunson (27) and Karl-Anthony Towns (21) combined for 48 points, with the latter adding 15 rebounds to grab a fifth straight double-double in the playoffs, but the Celtics powered to a 31-point lead by the third quarter, killing off any comeback attempt from the hosts.
Having blown a 2-0 lead in semis last year, coach Tom Thibodeau will urge his side to quickly put Saturday's result behind and regain full control of the series ahead of their return to Boston, where they have not won three straight games since April 2023.
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As for the Boston Celtics, they will be looking to build on their dominant victory at the weekend as they look to level matters in the series and resurrect their title defence.
Payton Pritchard dropped a team-high 23 points in a standout display off the bench to record his highest scoring display in the playoffs as the Celtics turned in a solid contribution across the board, with six players finishing with double figures.
Having shot 12-42 in the first two games, Jayson Tatum shrugged off his cold start to the series as he knocked down 22 points, including 5-9 from 3-point range, while reigning MVP Jaylen Brown tallied 19 points, six rebounds and nine assists.
Key to Saturday's crunch victory was their shooting from beyond the arc as Joe Mazzulla's men made 20 of their 40 3-point attempts, significantly improving on their 25-100 from across the first opening games in Boston, including a playoff-record 45 missed from Game 1.
Having swept the New York Knicks 4-0 in the regular season, the Boston Celtics know that they have it in them to level the tie on hostile territory as they head into Monday's clash on a run of 11 wins from their 13 road games since March 15.
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Team News
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Karl-Anthony Towns was caught holding his shooting hand in pain after being fouled on a shot in Game 3 on Saturday, but the 29-year-old, who dropped 21 points in the defeat, has downplayed fears of injury.
Towns is the second leading scorer for the Knicks in the playoffs with 19.3 points per game, only behind floor general Brunson, who is averaging 29.1 points and 7.6 assists.
As for the Boston Celtics, 27-year-old guard Sam Hauser missed Games 2 and 3 of the conference semis through an ankle injury and is a major doubt for a return on Monday.
Barring any late fitness concerns, Hauser remains the only injury concern for the Celtics heading to Madison Square Garden, giving coach Mazzulla a relatively full house at his disposal.
New York Knicks possible starting 5:
Brunson, Hart, Towns, Bridges, Anunoby
Boston Celtics possible starting 5:
Holiday, White, Horford, Tatum, Brown
We say: The New York Knicks to win by 3+ points.
Joshua Ojele
