Overview

• The Celtics became the first team in NBA playoff history to blow back-to-back 20-point leads, losing Games 1 and 2 at TD Garden to the Knicks.
• Jayson Tatum is struggling offensively, averaging just 18.0 points on under 30% shooting, including a season-low 13 points in Game 2.
• Boston entered the series as heavy favorites to reach the Finals but now faces a must-win Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on May 10.
• The Celtics posted a league-best 33-8 regular-season road record and have historically performed better in road playoff games than at home.
• Critics, including Bill Simmons, attribute Boston's struggles to overconfidence and poor execution in critical moments of the fourth quarter.