Celtics cling to 7% probability and look to revive series as Game 3 heads to New York

The reigning NBA champions are in trouble, big trouble after losing both opening games of their Eastern conference semi-final games at the TD Garden against the NY Knicks.

The Celtics travel to New York City for Game 3 and 4 of the best of seven series hoping to defy history and the statistics that give Boston a 7.3% chance of advancing to the Eastern conference final.

Since 1956, 463 series playoff games (non-seven-games series included) started with a team winning each of the first two games. In 429 of those, the team with the advantage won the series to progress. Only 34 teams were able to overcome the 2-0 deficit, a 7.3% success rate.

Hope not lost for Celtics fans

Boston Celtics fans, however are not giving up on the team. Both games at the TD Garden were decided by small margins with the Knicks winning 90-91 and 105-108 and in the three regular season meetings between the teams, the Celtics won the trio with their February 2025 victory a comprehensive 131-104 scoreline.

The Knicks and the Celtics have played 67 games in the playoffs with 31 victories for the Knicks and 36 for the Celtics.

The teams have only met twice this century in the playoffs, with the Knicks winning out in the 2013 first round match-up and Boston prevailing in 2011 at the same stage.

Game 3 of the Eastern conference playoffs between New York and Boston tips off at Madison Square Garden on Saturday at 3.30 pm ET.

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