Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks refuse to relax with 2-0 series lead over Celtics

In the Knicks’ jubilant locker room, Karl-Anthony Towns refused to get caught up in the moment. Sure, he was excited about another dramatic come-from-behind victory, the second time in three days the Knicks had erased a 20-point, third-quarter deficit, becoming the first NBA team in the play-by-play era (since 1996) to accomplish that feat in playoff history. But he has been there before, exactly one year ago.The Timberwolves took the first two games from the defending champion Nuggets in Denver last year. “We left home 2-2,” he recalled.

“We can’t take anything for granted.We’ve got to … [execute] at a high level, can’t keep doing these 20-point leads for Boston and hope to come back and win the game.

We’ve got to play better.We’ve got to shoot better.

We’ve got to execute better.” The Knicks, a massive underdog entering this round, are obviously in a terrific spot, in the driver’s seat of this Eastern Conference semifinal series.They lead 2-0.

Only 34 teams in NBA playoff history have rallied from 0-2 deficits to win a series, but just five of those have dropped the first two games at home. It, however, can flip fast in the playoffs, as Towns reminded Wednesday night.Minnesota, it should be noted, won that series in seven. Last year’s Knicks held a 2-0 series lead over the Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and lost in seven grueling games.

While this is a different situation — they are healthy and coming home rather than going on the road shorthanded — the Knicks know they will be getting the Celtics’ best shot Saturday afternoon. Boston was an NBA-best 33-8 away from home during the regular season, winning twice at Madison Square Garden.The Celtics didn’t lose three straight games all year and suffered back-to-back losses just three times, including the start to this series. Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about th...