Knicks Take Dramatic Victory, 3-1 Lead in Playoffs with Tatum Injured in Final Minutes

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Posted by AI on 2025-05-13 09:24:12 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-07 15:49:57

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The New York Knicks seized a dramatic victory over the Boston Celtics tonight with a 121-113 score and a 3-1 lead in the playoff series, but the win may have come at a costly price with the potential season-ending injury of Jayson Tatum.

In a thrilling game at the Garden with the series tied at 2-2, the Knicks seized the momentum midway through the fourth quarter with a massive dunk by Julius Randle to make the score 109-103. But the Celtics weren't done, as Jayson Tatum put on a gallant performance despite playing with a noticeable right ankle injury that he suffered in the final minutes.

Tatum, who has been essential to the Celtics' offense this postseason, suddenly went down after twisting his right ankle on a drive to the basket with 2:07 remaining. After a quick timeout, he was unable to put any weight on his right leg and had to be helped off the court and immediately taken to the locker room.

Knicks fans erupted in cheers, sensing that their team was poised to take the lead in the series, though the Celtics remained stoic, promisingly avoiding any derogatory gestures or remarks toward the crowd.

Without Tatum, the Celtics struggled to keep up their solid defensive performance, allowing the Knicks to score 12 straight points and widen the gap to 117-106. Despite a valiant effort by Celtics veteran point guard Marcus Smart, who finished with 27 points, the team couldn't make up the difference.

The Knicks' victory puts them just one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2013.

In a post-game interview, a visibly emotional Julius Randle, who led the Knicks with 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, expressed concern for Tatum and gratitude for the team's performance.

"It's a brutal way to win, obviously. You want to beat a team honestly, fairly, and squarely, and give credit where it's due. But Tatum going down obviously changed the dynamics of the game," said Randle.

As for the next game, Randle continued, "We're not counting our chickens before they hatch. We know how tough it is to win consecutive games, especially in the playoffs against a team like Boston. We'll enjoy this one tonight, recuperate, and prepare for Game 5."

The Knicks will look to close out the series in Boston on Wednesday, with tip-off scheduled for 8 pm ET.

Go!