Wafric News – May 13, 2025

New York / San Francisco — The New York Knicks edged closer to a shock Eastern Conference Finals appearance after taking down the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, 121-113 in Game 4 — but the Celtics’ hopes suffered a potentially devastating blow with star man Jayson Tatum limping off late with an ankle injury.

Jalen Brunson delivered yet again for New York, pouring in 39 points — 26 of them in a blazing second-half surge — as the Knicks became the first team to notch a home win in this series and now lead it 3-1. The performance was a statement of intent from a team few had tipped to outplay the reigning champs.

Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges chipped in with 23 points apiece, while OG Anunoby added 20 and made several clutch plays down the stretch to cap the comeback from a 14-point deficit.

“We showed grit,” said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau postgame. “We didn’t fold. The group responded with big-time discipline and fight. Everybody contributed.”

But for the Celtics, who started strong and led for much of the game, the night turned somber when Jayson Tatum — who had already scorched New York with 42 points and seven three-pointers — went down with what appeared to be a serious right ankle injury. He had to be assisted off court and was later seen wheeled to the locker room.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla confirmed postgame, “It’s a lower-body injury for Tatum. We’ll get an MRI in the morning and see where things stand.”

Boston’s Derrick White dropped 23 points, including six threes, and Jaylen Brown added 20, but it wasn’t enough to avoid sliding to the brink of elimination. Game 5 takes place in Boston on Wednesday, where the Knicks will look to close out the series.

“We didn’t expect to be in this situation,” said White. “But now we’ve got to fight to stay alive.”

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Anthony Edwards led a searing third-quarter run as the Minnesota Timberwolves took command of their series against the Golden State Warriors with a 117-110 win — moving one step away from back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances.

Edwards racked up 30 points — with 11 coming during a game-breaking 17-0 blitz early in the third. Julius Randle backed him with 31 points, while Jaden McDaniels added a double-double of 10 points and 13 boards for Minnesota, who now hold a 3-1 lead heading into Game 5 in Minneapolis.

“We came out in the third with focus, urgency, and intensity,” said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. “Ant [Edwards] really set the tone, both in the locker room and on the court.”

The Warriors — playing without Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury — were led by Jonathan Kuminga’s 23 points. Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler III each had 14, but the defending Western Conference champions struggled to keep up from beyond the arc.

Minnesota knocked down 16 threes at nearly 50% accuracy, while Golden State could only manage eight makes on 27 attempts.

The Timberwolves now return home with a chance to wrap things up in front of their fans. But Golden State coach Steve Kerr isn’t ready to wave the white flag.

“We’ve got another shot in Minneapolis,” Kerr said. “We’re not done yet.”


By WafricNews Desk.