It was quite the letdown for Boston’s Celtics, who faced a surprising 108-105 overtime loss against the Knicks in Game 1.
During a recap on NBC Boston, hosts Chris Forsberg and Annie Chin discussed the underwhelming atmosphere at the start of the game, which didn’t really match the excitement that was expected.
The unusual weather played a role, as they briefly touched on Kristaps Porzingis’ absence due to illness.
Forsberg pointed out, “We simply lacked the energy at the outset. There was a marked difference compared to the electric crowd we saw in that explosive game on April 8 at MSG.”
Chin responded, agreeing and noting, “A 7 o’clock start probably didn’t help. I really think that affected things.”
Forsberg brought up the effect of the rain.
Chin added, “I noticed plenty of empty seats during the national anthem. I’d attribute that to the weather, even though, ideally, there should be some serious energy in this series.”
While many factors influenced the Celtics’ performance, the duo analyzed the consequences of a less-than-rowdy crowd during these tightly contested playoff games.
Analyze the Knicks’ reports from the 2025 NBA Playoffs
A Boston crowd can be intimidating, but the Celtics have to find ways to perform regardless of outside influences. In Game 1, they ended up with a disheartening statistic of the most missed three-point shots in NBA playoff history.
Throughout the night, Boston struggled on three-pointers, making only 15 of 60 attempts (25%). Meanwhile, the Knicks capitalized, sinking 17 out of 37 for an impressive 45.9%.
Reflecting on the game, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla expressed confidence, saying, “I felt we looked good for most of the night.”
As they gear up for Game 2 on Wednesday, the Celtics are favored by 10.5 points according to BetMGM.
Fortunately for Boston, the weather seems to be making a turn for the better with a forecast of partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 68 degrees. It seems there’s only a slight chance of rain.
