Knicks avoid nightmare scenario thanks to massive Jaylen Brown choke

For the New York Knicks fans that are still holding their breath from last night’s game, it’s okay to exhale now. What initially looked like yet another crunch-time loss instead turned into a huge road victory for the Knicks.

Although New York was up by double-digits with five minutes left to play in the game, fans knew what was coming. It’s what always happens. At this point, it’s inevitable. It’s like watching the worst movie ever on a loop, but this time, the ending was finally one worth watching.

RJ Barrett shot a poor 6-of-18 from the field, but he was there when the Knicks needed him most. Standing in the corner, he knocked down a three-pointer with 29 seconds left in overtime to put New York ahead by one, 116-115. Jaylen Brown answered with a layup to shift the lead in the Celtics’ favor, but 17 seconds later, he missed two free throws that would’ve given Boston the one-point lead with 7.1 seconds left to play.

From there, Barrett knocked down two clutch free throws to put the Knicks up by three with what was the eventual final score, 120-117. They don’t call him the Celtics killer for no reason.

Celtics pull a Knicks as Jaylen Brown misses crucial free throws to lose third straight

Too many times this season, the Knicks have watched their lead crumble in the final minutes of the game. Whether it was missed free throws or failing to run some sort of competent offense, New York has dealt with more heartbreaking losses than any one fan base should have to deal with.

It seemed like that’s where Thursday night’s game in TD Garden was headed, but instead, it was Jaylen Brown’s two missed free throws that ended up haunting the nightmares of every Celtics fan last night. Knicks fans didn’t have to lie awake wondering where it all went wrong.

New York’s win was undoubtedly the best of the season, especially since there was no Mitchell Robinson. With James Dolan saying that the Knicks will have to make it through the next four weeks without their starting center, New York will have to fight to stay in play-in range in his absence. And that’s exactly what they did in Boston.

You can’t put a price on a win like that. Thank you, Julius. Thank you, RJ. Thank you, New York. Oh, and a big thank you to Jaylen Brown.

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