Eastern Conference Powerhouses Face Unprecedented 0-2 Deficits

The NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs have taken a stunning and historic turn as both top seeds find themselves in desperate situations. The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, who each won 60-plus games during the regular season, now face 0-2 deficits after being upset in their first two home games by the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, respectively.

“There’s no precedent in league history for what we saw in the opening days of the NBA’s conference semifinals,” according to ESPN. This marks the first time ever that road teams have won all four Game 1s to open the second round, followed by both Eastern Conference road teams winning Game 2 as well, creating an unexpected playoff picture as the series shift to New York and Indiana.

Knicks Stun Celtics With Back-to-Back Comebacks

The New York Knicks have shocked the defending champion Celtics with two remarkable comeback victories to open their semifinal series. After erasing a 20-point deficit in Game 1 to win 108-105 in overtime, the Knicks repeated the feat in Game 2, climbing out of another 20-point hole to secure a 91-90 victory when Jalen Brunson hit the go-ahead free throws.

Boston’s offense has completely collapsed in both games, with the team shooting an identical and dismal 25% from three-point range in both losses. The Celtics are just the second team in the past six years to shoot 25% or worse from beyond the arc in the first two games of a playoff series, a stunning development for a squad that led the league in three-point attempts during their championship run last season.

Pacers Seize Control Against Shorthanded Cavaliers

The Indiana Pacers have capitalized on their opportunities against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, taking both games in Cleveland behind hot shooting and clutch performances. After winning Game 1 with exceptional three-point shooting (53%), the Pacers completed a stunning Game 2 comeback behind Tyrese Haliburton’s last-second heroics.

Cleveland’s injury situation has gone from concerning to critical, with starters Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and key reserve De’Andre Hunter all missing Game 2. Despite these absences, the Cavaliers led by 17 points late in the third quarter before collapsing down the stretch. Donovan Mitchell’s heroic 48-point effort wasn’t enough to prevent Indiana from stealing another road win, according to NBA.com.

Historical Context Offers Hope

While the situation appears dire for both top seeds, history suggests comebacks remain possible. Since 2021, three of the four higher seeds that fell into 0-2 holes at home managed to force Game 7s, though only one ultimately won their series. The Celtics themselves rallied from 0-3 down against Miami in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals before losing Game 7 at home.

Boston’s road record provides particular reason for optimism. The Celtics have been dramatically better away from TD Garden over the past four playoffs, going 22-9 on the road compared to just 23-16 at home. Their ability to win on the road will be immediately tested when they visit Madison Square Garden for Saturday’s critical Game 3.

The Path Forward

For Cleveland, health will be the determining factor in any potential comeback. The Cavaliers will need at least some of their injured players to return for Game 3 in Indianapolis on Friday. Meanwhile, the Celtics must rediscover their shooting touch that abandoned them in the first two games if they hope to salvage their title defense.

The stakes couldn’t be higher as both series resume. With the Knicks seeking their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 and the Pacers trying to build on last year’s surprise run, the conference powers who dominated the regular season now face the ultimate test of their championship mettle. “It’s important to take the emotion out,” as Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after his team’s bounce-back win on Wednesday. “Winning by a hundred or winning by two, it’s still just one win.”