No Celebration Yet: Knicks Take Game 4, But Brunson Preaches Patience

There was a moment Monday night—after the final horn blared and Madison Square Garden turned into a roaring sea of blue and orange—when it felt like the Knicks had finally arrived.

Fans were losing their minds. Teammates were embracing at half court. They had just knocked off the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, 121-113 to take a 3-1 lead in their second-round playoff series.

But one guy wasn’t smiling.

Jalen Brunson was waving people off the court, not soaking in the win. No high knees, no dancing. Just a straight face and a reminder: “It’s nothing to celebrate.”

That’s the heart of this Knicks team—gritty, grounded, and hungry for more. And thanks to their leader’s 39-point, 12-assist masterpiece, they’re now just one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in a quarter-century.

A Garden Night to Remember—But a Job Still Unfinished

It had been 25 long years since the Knicks last made it this far in the postseason. You could feel that history weighing in the air at MSG. The energy was electric. The stakes were enormous. And the Celtics—wounded and proud—weren’t going to hand them anything.

Early on, it looked bad. Really bad.

Boston lit it up in the first quarter like they were shooting in an empty gym. Jayson Tatum and Derrick White couldn’t miss. The Celtics dropped 39 points in the opening frame, hitting 9-of-14 from beyond the arc. White hit all four of his threes. Tatum looked like a man on a mission.

By the third quarter, the Knicks were staring down a 14-point deficit and a very loud “uh oh” moment.

But this team? This team doesn’t fold.

Brunson Flips the Script—Again

If there’s a single thread running through this Knicks playoff run, it’s this: Jalen Brunson never lets the moment get too big.

Midway through the third, with Boston surging, Brunson got surgical. He scored 18 points in the quarter—floaters, pull-ups, tough layups through traffic. Everything started running through him. He was in full command, like a veteran quarterback picking apart a blitz.

And just like that, the Knicks had turned a double-digit hole into an 88-85 lead heading into the fourth. The crowd exploded. Everyone stood. MSG was back in playoff mode—the kind that feels more like a rock concert than a basketball game.

That stretch was the turning point. Not just because the Knicks took control, but because it reminded everyone what makes this team dangerous: they don’t go away.

Balanced Attack: Towns, Bridges, and Anunoby Step Up

Of course, Brunson didn’t do it alone. Not even close.

Karl-Anthony Towns showed off his versatility, hitting outside shots and bullying down low. He poured in 23 points and was physical in the paint when it mattered most.

Mikal Bridges, who’s been steady as a metronome this postseason, added 23 of his own and gave the Knicks a little bit of everything—defense, transition buckets, and key free throws late.

OG Anunoby might not get the headlines, but his 20 points were massive. He was everywhere on defense and made the kind of hustle plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet but win playoff games.

A Scary Moment Changes Everything

Then came the moment that changed the entire tone of the night.

With just over three minutes to play and the Knicks up by six, Jaylen Brown fumbled a pass near the arc. Tatum lunged after it, trying to recover, but suddenly collapsed to the floor, clutching his right leg in pain.

The air got sucked out of the Garden in an instant.

While Anunoby scooped up the ball and dunked to push the lead to nine, nobody really noticed. All eyes were on Tatum, who was rolling on the floor grimacing. He couldn’t put any weight on the leg as he was helped off.

Tatum finished with 42 points—he was brilliant—but the Celtics’ hopes may now rest on what that MRI shows. No official update yet, but the injury didn’t look good.

And just like that, the focus of the series shifted from strategy to survival.

Defense Wins Late—and the Knicks Know It

For all their offensive firepower, the Knicks won this game on the defensive end when it counted most.

After a rough first half of blown coverages and slow rotations—particularly leaving Derrick White wide open—they locked in down the stretch. Communication tightened. Switches got sharper. They made life miserable for Boston’s ball-handlers.

Jaylen Brown, who’s been critical to Boston’s success all year, was held to 20 points and made several key mistakes late. Turnovers, rushed shots, misreads—it felt like the Knicks had gotten into his head.

“We just stayed connected,” said Bridges. “Early on, we let guys get too comfortable. But we adjusted. That’s what playoff basketball is.”

Source: Knicks again don’t quit, seize 3-1 lead on Celtics with Game 4 win

Brunson, as Always, Steady and Centered

After the game, Brunson wasn’t interested in talking about his stats. He wasn’t interested in gloating or trash talk.

He opened his press conference by sending prayers to Tatum and wishing him a speedy recovery. Then, with a calm tone and a focused look, he explained why the Knicks needed to stay locked in.

“We have a good team, but I don’t even think we’re playing our best basketball yet,” he said. “There’s more we can do. We’re not satisfied. We’re learning every game, and we’re growing.”

That’s the terrifying part if you’re Boston—or anyone else in the East.

The Knicks are still evolving. Still finding their identity. Still climbing.

Game 5: The Finish Line… or the Start of Something Bigger

Now the Knicks travel to Boston with a chance to do something they haven’t done in 25 years—punch a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

And they’d love nothing more than to do it in enemy territory.

The Celtics will be desperate. Their backs are against the wall, and they’ll be fueled by pride, adrenaline, and the noise of TD Garden. But if Tatum is out, or even limited, the Knicks have the upper hand.

Still, don’t expect anyone in a Knicks uniform to take that lightly. Brunson won’t allow it.

“We’ve got to approach Game 5 like we’re down 3-1,” he said. “Like our season’s on the line.”

And maybe that’s why this team feels different. Maybe that’s why this run feels real.

Because while fans might be dreaming of confetti and champagne, the Knicks are still in the trenches—one possession at a time, one stop at a time, one game at a time.

And if they keep playing like this, the next celebration might be the one they’ve actually earned.

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