The Celtics built a big lead and – finally – kept it on Saturday, blowing out the Knicks 115-93, trimming their series deficit to 2-1. Here are the takeaways. The Celtics found their stroke (and the game looked way more normal).

The key to victory in Game 3 was the return of elite perimeter shooting, and also championship defense. The Celtics held New York to 93 points on just 40.0% shooting from the field and limited the Knicks to just five three-pointers (5-25).

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs continued this weekend, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics emerging victorious in Game 3s. The Wolves and Nuggets now hold 2-1 leads in their series, while the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are the ones up 2-1 in their respective matchups.