Knicks stun Celtics with comeback victory in Game 2

"That's the playoffs," Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau said postgame. "You gotta keep fighting. Every possession matters. You gotta play all 48 minutes."

Despite their sluggish start, Thibodeau praised his team's resilience.

"We started slowly and got in a big hole, but we dug our way out," Thibodeau said. "They made tough plays. They were at their best when the best was needed down the stretch."

While Jalen Brunson aided the Knicks' comeback with a few clutch buckets, it was his former Villanova teammate who stole the show in the fourth quarter.

Held scoreless over the first 36 minutes, Bridges erupted for 14 points in the fourth quarter. His six field goals (including two three-pointers) helped the Knicks execute a 21-2 run and take their first lead in the final frame. 

Clinging to a one-point lead, Bridges stepped up again for New York, this time defensively, sealing the game with a timely steal on the final possession for the second straight game.

“That’s who Mikal is," Knicks guard Josh Hart said after Monday’s win. “He’s a winning player. He makes winning plays. He should be celebrated for that.”

Entering the series, the Knicks were viewed as steep underdogs against Boston's well-rounded attack. So far, the Knicks' resilience and tenacity have allowed them to escape Boston with successive comeback wins. 

Despite making history in their late-game rallies, Brunson said that he doesn't want the team to get in the habit of facing deficits.

"I would prefer not to," Brunson said. "We need to start games a lot better and sustain how we play."

Boasting a commanding 2-0 series lead, the Knicks now head back to the Big Apple poised to dethrone the defending champion Celtics at Madison Square Garden.