May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla watches from the sideline as they take on the New York Knicks during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images David Butler II-Imagn Images

Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics Are Facing Elimination After Game 4 Loss to Knicks

Originally posted on West Virginia Mountaineers on SI
By Schuyler Callihan | Last updated May 13, 2025 7:24 AM ET

Once again, the Boston Celtics watched a second-half double-digit lead go to waste, falling to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals by a 121-113 score. Boston now falls behind 3-1 in the series and is one loss away from being eliminated.

Jayson Tatum put up monster numbers, going for 42 points on the night, but was unable to finish the contest due to a lower-body injury. The fear is that it's an Achilles injury, which would obviously end his season if that turns out to be the diagnosis. Tatum had to be carried off the floor after not being able to put any weight on that leg/foot.

West Virginia product and head coach of the Celtics, Joe Mazzulla, is trying to remain optimistic about his team's chances despite being down 3-1 and possibly without Tatum moving forward.

“Tonight, we just didn’t play well defensively, and we’re in a hole. We got to get back to Boston and we got to figure out a way to win. The Knicks played great tonight. We had stretches of playing well, and they got the best of us, especially in that third quarter with their pace and their offensive execution. I thought their pressure took us out of a lot of our actions and took away our rhythm. We have to fix that for next game.”

Game five will take place on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET.