Josh Hart Had Two Words After Knicks’ Historic Comeback Over Celtics

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 8, 2025 10:02 AM ET

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks surprised many people by overcoming a 20-point third-quarter deficit to win in overtime on the road.

They trailed again by 20 points in the third quarter of Game 2 on Wednesday, and surely, people thought they couldn't fight back again for another win.

But they stunned the basketball world and did exactly that to take a 2-0 series lead over the defending NBA champions.

The Knicks have done it with contributions from several players on both ends of the floor. After Game 2, guard Josh Hart, who led them with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, highlighted one player who has been a major factor with a two-word post on X.

"Mikal Bridges," he wrote.

Mikal Bridges.
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) May 8, 2025

Bridges shot just 6-of-18 from the field in Game 2 and 3-of-13 in Game 1. However, his defense has been one of the biggest reasons New York has put a stranglehold on this series.

He has helped harass Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who has played some horrendous basketball so far. Tatum went 7-of-23 from the field in Game 1, and on Wednesday, he made just five of his 19 shot attempts.

At the end of Game 3, Bridges hounded Tatum into committing a turnover when Tatum had the opportunity to go for the game-winning shot.

As a team, Boston has been as cold offensively as a winter day in New England. It has gone 25-of-100 from 3-point range in the first two games combined, and it went more than eight minutes of the fourth quarter of Game 2 without making a single basket.

The Knicks' grit and resourcefulness have put them two games away from not only a monumental upset but also their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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