Celtics Collapse Again as Knicks Take Command; Thunder Obliterate Nuggets in Historic Blowout | NBA Playoffs 2025
The Boston Celtics are officially in crisis mode. After a second straight 20-point meltdown against the New York Knicks, the top-seeded Celtics find themselves trailing 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals—something no one saw coming. Meanwhile in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder lit up the scoreboard with a record-setting 87-point first half to dismantle the Denver Nuggets and level their series 1-1.
In one of the most dramatic playoff nights in recent memory, both series took sharp turns that could shape the entire 2025 NBA postseason.
🔥 Celtics vs. Knicks Game 2: A 20-Point Lead Means Nothing
Keyword: Celtics vs. Knicks Game 2 | NBA Playoffs 2025
🗽 Knicks Rally Again to Shock TD Garden
You’d think lightning couldn’t strike twice, especially in the playoffs. But the Knicks made it happen.
For the second straight game, Tom Thibodeau’s squad stormed back from a 20-point third-quarter deficit, stunning Boston fans into silence and leaving the Celtics scrambling for answers.
With the score tied and 12.7 seconds remaining, Jalen Brunson, the newly crowned Clutch Player of the Year, calmly sank two free throws to put the Knicks up by one. On the final possession, Mikal Bridges picked Jayson Tatum’s pocket—just as he did to Jaylen Brown in Game 1—to seal a gritty 91-90 win.
"Two games we’re up 20 points and somehow end up not with wins is inexcusable," Celtics star Jaylen Brown told reporters postgame.
Brunson finished with 17 points and seven assists, including the team’s final six points. Bridges, cold all game, dropped all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter alone—including the decisive defensive play.
📉 Boston’s Offense Implodes
Despite leading by 20 in the third quarter, Boston missed 14 of its final 15 shots in the fourth. They went more than eight minutes without a single bucket, turning a dominant performance into disaster.
“It’s an opportunity to show what we’re made of,” Brown added. “Obviously, we wouldn’t like to be in this position, but we’re here now, so we got to respond.”
⭐ Knicks’ Supporting Cast Steps Up
The Knicks were without Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson, yet their depth proved elite.
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Josh Hart: 23 points (game-high)
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Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points, 17 rebounds
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Brunson: 17 points (last six of the game), 7 assists
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Bridges: 14 points in Q4 alone
🖼️ [Insert image: Josh Hart driving past Derrick White]
This Knicks team, swept 4-0 by Boston during the regular season and finishing 10 games behind them, now holds all the momentum.
📊 Game Recap: Celtics vs. Knicks Game 2 Stats
| Team | FG% | 3PT | TOs | Rebounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics | 38% | 10/43 | 15 | 47 |
| Knicks | 45% | 9/27 | 11 | 51 |
🧨 Thunder Make History: 87 First-Half Points Crush Nuggets
Keyword: Thunder Nuggets Game 2 highlights | NBA Playoffs 2025
🚀 Thunder Come Out Blazing
If the Celtics collapsed in silence, the Thunder made noise like a freight train.
Oklahoma City scored 87 points in the first half, shattering the previous playoff record, en route to a 149-106 destruction of the Denver Nuggets.
Game 2 was never close. OKC led by 24 after the first quarter, and by halftime, the game felt over.
🧠 SGA Dominates, Bench Shines
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34 points
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8 assists
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4 rebounds
He controlled the tempo, exploited mismatches, and punished switches.
Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 11 boards, and eight Thunder players scored in double figures—including bench dynamo Isaiah Joe with 13.
“We knew we had to respond after Game 1. We made it personal,” Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame.
🪓 Nuggets Look Lost
The defending champions didn’t just lose—they got embarrassed.
Nikola Jokić, who posted a historic 42-22 statline in Game 1, was limited to 17 points before fouling out in the third. Without his rhythm, Denver looked disjointed on both ends.
📉 Coaching Turmoil?
With former head coach Michael Malone fired pre-playoffs, interim coach David Adelman faces a locker room in flux. Game 1’s hero Aaron Gordon had just 9 points. The Nuggets' rotations were slow and confused, especially in transition defense.
📊 Game Recap: Thunder vs. Nuggets Game 2 Stats
| Team | FG% | 3PT | TOs | Assists | Bench Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | 58% | 17/38 | 7 | 34 | 52 |
| Nuggets | 42% | 9/28 | 16 | 22 | 31 |
🔮 What’s Next: Game 3 Previews
🏟️ Celtics at Knicks (Game 3 – Saturday, Madison Square Garden)
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Boston’s season may hang in the balance.
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Will Tatum finally break through?
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Can the Knicks feed off the MSG crowd and push the series to 3-0?
X-Factor: Jayson Tatum’s efficiency and late-game decision-making.
🏟️ Thunder at Nuggets (Game 3 – Saturday, Denver)
Nuggets return to altitude needing a reset.
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Can Jokic avoid foul trouble and rally the team?
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Will OKC keep up their blistering pace?
X-Factor: Denver’s defense in the first quarter.
🏁 Final Thoughts: A Wild Night That Changes Everything
In a single night, the balance of power shifted. The Celtics, once favorites to win it all, are on the ropes. The Thunder, long labeled “a team of the future,” look ready to contend now. And the Knicks? They’re writing one of the best playoff underdog stories in years.
Expect more chaos as Game 3 approaches—because if the 2025 NBA Playoffs have proven anything, it’s that no lead is safe and no script is guaranteed.
✅ Call to Action
🔥 What do you think—is this the year the Knicks shock the world? Can the Celtics pull off a miracle comeback?
📣 Join the conversation in the comments below and don’t forget to:
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