The Boston Celtics face the New York Knicks tonight in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, aiming to even the series after dropping the opener at home.
The Knicks secured a 108-105 overtime victory in Game 1 Monday, overcoming a halftime deficit against the Celtics. The loss put Boston in an early hole in the best-of-seven series.
Jayson Tatum had a game of mixed results in Game 1. He scored 13 points before halftime but added only eight after the break, finishing with 21 points. He did pull down 16 rebounds, tying a season high.
Before the series began, the Celtics announced a historic statistic for Tatum. He became just the third player in NBA history to record more than 2,800 points, 900 rebounds, and 500 assists through his first 117 playoff games. Larry Bird and LeBron James are the only other players to reach those marks.
Player availability is a factor heading into Game 2. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is not on the injury report and is set to play after scoring 29 points in Game 1. For the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis is listed as probable due to a non-COVID illness that limited him to 13 minutes in Game 1. Guard Sam Hauser is doubtful with a right ankle sprain.
Expectations for Tatum in Game 2 include improving his shooting consistency after a difficult second half Monday. His high rebounding total in Game 1 was partly attributed to the Celtics' poor shooting, which created more opportunities on the glass.
Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET at TD Garden.
