In a surprising turn of events, the New York Knicks have taken a 2-0 series lead over the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in the Eastern Conference semifinals. What makes this feat even more remarkable is that the Knicks achieved this by overcoming substantial deficits in both games.

In Game 1, the Knicks rallied from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to secure an overtime win on the road. Many believed it was unlikely they could repeat such a comeback in Game 2. However, trailing by another 20 points in the third quarter on Wednesday, the Knicks defied expectations once again, stunning the basketball world and seizing a commanding lead in the series.

The Knicks' success has been fueled by contributions from various players on both ends of the court. Guard Josh Hart, who led the team with 23 points in Game 2, emphasized the significant impact of Mikal Bridges' defense. Despite Bridges' shooting struggles (6-of-18 in Game 2 and 3-of-13 in Game 1), his defensive prowess has been a crucial factor in New York's dominance over the Celtics.

Bridges has been instrumental in harassing Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who has struggled mightily in the series. Tatum shot poorly in both games, going 7-of-23 in Game 1 and 5-of-19 in Game 2. In a critical moment at the end of Game 3, Bridges forced Tatum into a turnover, preventing him from attempting a potential game-winning shot.

As a team, the Boston Celtics have struggled offensively, shooting a combined 25-of-100 from 3-point range in the first two games. In Game 2, they endured an eight-minute scoring drought in the fourth quarter. The Knicks' resilience and ability to find solutions have put them within reach of a significant upset and their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.