Brunson Leads Knicks Past Celtics as Tatum Injury Casts Shadow Over Series

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The New York Knicks are on the brink of their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years following a 121–113 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the series. Led by Jalen Brunson’s 39 points and 12 assists, the Knicks overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and a hostile Celtics start to take a commanding 3–1 series lead. The second half saw New York outscore Boston 70–51, energized by a third-quarter surge and crucial late-game execution. The game’s pivotal moment came with 2:58 remaining, when Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered a potentially serious right leg injury while lunging for a loose ball. Tatum had been stellar up to that point, scoring 42 points, but his exit left the Celtics without their primary offensive weapon in the final minutes. Veteran forward Al Horford acknowledged the emotional weight of the loss, stating, “We’ve lost our leader, the guy that gets us going”.

With Tatum sidelined and the Celtics facing elimination, the Knicks capitalized. OG Anunoby, after two underwhelming performances, contributed 20 points. Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns added 23 apiece, giving the Knicks a balanced attack that Boston couldn’t contain. Brunson, who scored 18 points in the third quarter alone, emphasized the team's mindset: “It was a sense of urgency, desperation, just knowing that we have a great opportunity”. Boston had led at halftime 62–51, their fourth straight game with a double-digit lead. Yet for the third time in the series, the lead evaporated. The Knicks’ starters played the entire third quarter, outscoring Boston 37–23, and pulled away with a decisive 11–0 run in the fourth after the game was tied at 102–102. Despite six three-pointers and 23 points from Derrick White and 20 from Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ supporting cast couldn’t compensate for Tatum’s absence.

The Celtics now face the monumental task of becoming only the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 deficit—and potentially doing so without their star player. The last team to do so on the road was the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals. Game 5, scheduled for Wednesday night in Boston, will be critical. A Knicks win would send them to the conference finals for the first time since 2000. If not, the series would shift back to Madison Square Garden for a potential Game 6. As the series narrative shifts dramatically due to Tatum’s injury, New York looks poised to complete a turnaround season with a deep playoff run, while Boston clings to hope that history—and health—are still on their side.