BOSTON -- Throughout this highly strange series -- which has featured a number of huge leads followed by double-digit, second-half comebacks -- the only thing that has seemed like a sure bet is that things would eventually tighten if the New York Knicks fell behind the defending champion Boston Celtics.
That wasn't the case in Game 5 on Wednesday.
The Celtics, without superstar Jayson Tatum, who ruptured his right Achilles tendon in Game 4, played a dominant second half at TD Garden, blasting the Knicks by 25 after the break to win 127-102 and stave off elimination.