In a jubilant Knicks locker room, Karl Anthony Towns stays grounded amid the celebration.
He felt the thrill of another thrilling comeback; for the second time in just three days, the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit in the third quarter, marking a historic achievement, becoming the first NBA team to do so in the playoffs since 1996.
Yet, he’s been in a similar situation not too long ago.
The Timberwolves began last year’s playoffs by winning their first two games against the Nuggets in Denver.
“We left home 2-2,” he reflected. “We never take anything for granted. We need to execute at a high level. They can’t keep up these 20-point leads against Boston if we want to turn this around. We must improve our game, our shooting—everything.”
The Knicks, seen as major underdogs, are currently in a strong position in the Eastern Conference semifinals, leading the series 2-0. Historically, only 34 teams have come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series, and among them, only five have started with two home losses.
However, as the past reminded them, things can shift swiftly in the playoffs.
The Timberwolves have overcome such situations seven times before. Last year, the Knicks found themselves leading the Pacers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, only to lose the series in a tough seven-game battle.
This time, they’re healthier and back on their home court, but the Knicks understand that they’re about to face the Celtics’ best effort on Saturday.
Boston has historically performed well at Madison Square Garden, finishing the regular season with a top record on the road. They’ve never lost three games in a row during the season and have only dropped three consecutive games once, right at the series’ start.
The Knicks will need to step up their performance, especially from beyond the arc, where they’ve struggled thus far. All-Star players Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown are expected to find their rhythm again after a rough start to the series.
“The mindset is still 0-0. We aren’t focusing on the series standing,” Jalen Brunson mentioned. “[We’re] concentrating on the next play, one quarter at a time. We’re not looking ahead, just focusing on what we need to do.”
This aligns with head coach Tom Thibodeau’s approach, who emphasized that the series lead shouldn’t distract the team.
“It’s crucial to focus on what it takes to win Game 3, not to get complacent,” he stated. “Being ahead doesn’t guarantee anything. We need to understand the steps to take in order to secure the next game.”
Both teams are looking to elevate their game, and the Knicks aren’t satisfied either. Brunson hasn’t been shooting at his usual clip, struggling with a mere 15 successful shots out of 42 attempts.
There’s a recurring issue with ball control, averaging 13.5 turnovers per game, and their offensive rating in Game 2 was the lowest of the playoffs.
“We definitely have to improve,” Towns remarked.
The upcoming Game 3 marks the Knicks’ return home after a long 13-day absence since their opening round against the Pistons.
In that series, they faced challenges at home, managing only one victory and overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit.
They realize the importance of a strong home performance this postseason.
“We still have a long way to go,” Towns added. “We can’t just bask in this moment. We need to keep pushing against one of the top teams in the NBA. Relaxing is not an option.”
