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).

Jaylen Brown led the half with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Jayson Tatum added 14 points, three assists, and two rebounds. For the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns posted 13 first half points to go with six rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 12 points before the break.

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.