By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The New York Knicks are one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google. With Jayson Tatum forced to an early exit due to a potentially serious right leg injury in the fourth quarter, they prevailed, 121-113, in Madison Square Garden and earned a 3-1 lead over the Boston Celtics on Monday.
“I don’t know what to make of it. Obviously, it looked like he got hurt there. He stayed on the ground for a while. I don’t know what exactly, but it didn’t look good. So, we’re hoping for the best,” Kristaps Porzingis talked about his teammate, who was up to 42 points until his injury.
“These things happen. Obviously, we all felt for him at that moment, but we have to keep going. We have to keep playing. Obviously, we all realize what this could mean,” he furthered, “This is part of the sport. It’s tough. It’s hard to see and accept the truth, but it is what it is, and we have to go with what we have now.”
“I didn’t see what happened. I hope he’s OK. I’m not sure what happened, but I really hope he’s OK,” added O.G. Anunoby, with the situation surrounding the 27-year-old American combo forward dominating postgame media sessions.
The 27-year-old British winger himself was forced to a brief exit due to a left hamstring injury in the first quarter. After spending a few minutes in the locker room, he returned in the second quarter and ended up with 20 points, including nine points with 5/5 field goals in the fourth quarter. Anunoby also recorded three rebounds and two assists. Jalen Brunson finished with 39 points.
“We played hard. We got stops. Ran on transition to score,” Anunoby said on the Knicks storming back from a 14-point deficit to build a double-digit lead of their own in the fourth period of Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.
French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti did not play for the team coached by Tom Thibodeau.
On the losing end, Portuguese Neemias Queta stayed on the bench, but Latvian Porzingis went for seven points, four rebounds, and one steal.
“It’s a tough situation for us, but we’re gonna look forward to the next game and go from there,” said the 29-year-old big with the C’s on the brink of elimination from the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Returning to Boston’s TD Garden, Game 5 is on Wednesday.