Jalen Brunson scored 39 points to power the New York Knicks to a thrilling 121-113 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics on Monday, putting the reigning NBA champions on the verge of playoff elimination.
The Knicks, now leading 3-1 in the Eastern Conference semi-final series, overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit to move within one win of their first conference finals appearance since 2000.
The game took a dramatic turn when Boston’s star forward Jayson Tatum, who scored 42 points, was carried off the court in the fourth quarter with a lower body injury.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed Tatum would undergo an MRI on Tuesday to evaluate the injury’s severity. “We’re concerned about his health and what we need to do better in Game 5,” Mazzulla said. Tatum was later seen leaving for the Madison Square Garden locker room in a wheelchair.
Despite a strong start from Boston, fueled by Tatum and Payton Pritchard, the Knicks seized control late in the game.