Tatum, Porziņģis Clutch in OT as Celtics Complete Season Dominance Over Knicks

In a thrilling overtime battle at Madison Square Garden, the Boston Celtics edged out the New York Knicks 119-117 on Tuesday night, completing a 5-0 regular season sweep that has many questioning New York's playoff potential.

Tatum and Porziņģis Lead Boston to Victory

The Celtics' dynamic duo came up big when it mattered most. Kristaps Porziņģis torched his former team with 34 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 41 seconds remaining in overtime that gave Boston a crucial 115-112 lead. Jayson Tatum added 32 points of his own, none bigger than his game-tying three with just three seconds left in regulation that forced overtime.

Jrue Holiday sealed the deal in the extra period, calmly sinking four free throws down the stretch to keep New York at bay despite their desperate comeback attempts.

Knicks' Late Game Execution Falls Short

New York had multiple opportunities to change the outcome. Following Porziņģis' late three, Jalen Brunson missed a potential game-tying shot. Even after getting a second chance on the same possession, the Knicks couldn't capitalize when Mikal Bridges fumbled a pass from Karl-Anthony Towns out of bounds.

In the dying seconds of regulation, Josh Hart's three-point attempt to win the game missed the mark, sending the contest to overtime where Boston ultimately prevailed.

Reasons for Optimism Despite the Sweep

While dropping all five games to a potential playoff opponent is concerning, Tuesday's nail-biter showed significant improvement compared to the previous three matchups, which saw New York lose by a combined 63 points.

Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a dominant performance with 34 points and 14 rebounds, showcasing the offensive firepower he brings to New York's frontcourt. Perhaps most encouraging was Jalen Brunson looking like himself again in just his second game back from an ankle sprain, recording 27 points and 10 assists.

Playoff Implications

This loss looms large as both teams appear headed for a potential second-round playoff clash. Boston has locked up the Eastern Conference's second seed, while New York needs just one more win (or one Indiana Pacers loss) to secure the third seed.

Should these teams meet in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Boston's perfect record against New York this season would certainly give them a psychological edge. However, playoff basketball often writes its own story, and the Knicks at full strength could present a different challenge than what Boston has seen in the regular season.

What's Next

The Knicks will look to clinch their playoff position on Thursday when they visit the Detroit Pistons, while the Indiana Pacers (who could still mathematically catch New York) host the Cleveland Cavaliers that same evening.

For Knicks fans left dejected by yet another loss to their longtime rivals, the playoffs offer a clean slate—and potentially, a chance for revenge when the games matter most.