After two straight home losses where Al Horford and the Celtics blew 20-point leads — something no other NBA team has ever done in back-to-back playoff games — the alarms are blaring in Boston. The Knicks didn’t just steal wins; they ripped the heart out of TD Garden and left with receipts. It’s a collapse so glaring, it’s already etched into playoff history.

But amid the chaos, Anna Horford, sister of Al Horford, sent out a message of defiance. “If they can get 2 on us at home, we can get 2 on them. Gotta #BelieveInBoston” she posted on X, capturing what Celtics fans are hoping isn’t blind faith, but a rallying cry.

Boston’s been here before. The Celtics have the talent, experience, and playoff miles to weather an early series deficit, even one as jarring as this. And Anna’s words, while simple, struck a chord. With Jayson Tatum struggling to find consistency and Jaylen Brown yet to hit his stride, the Cs haven’t looked like the team that led the East. But that’s exactly why the belief matters now.

It’s a sentiment soaked in hope, but also one Boston needs to channel into something more tangible — urgency.

Because belief alone can’t fix what’s broken. Through the first two games, the Celtics have cratered in clutch time. They’ve missed 12 straight shots in key stretches (bottom of the lot, per stats.nba.com), gone nearly nine minutes without a field goal to close Game 2, and are shooting a league-worst 9.1% from deep in late-game moments this postseason. They’re also bottom of the pack in overall clutch efficiency, hitting just 24.1% from the field (bottom of the lot, per stats.nba.com) when it matters most.

Boston’s Bricks and Knicks: Can the Celtics Find Their Playoff Mojo?

This was supposed to be the back-to- back year for Boston Celtics. 2nd seed in the East. Best net rating. One of the deepest rosters in the league. But the version of the Celtics showing up in crunch time? That team’s been outplayed, out-hustled, and straight-up out-toughed.

Jayson Tatum had one of his worst nights of the season — 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting — and in the moments Boston needed him most, he disappeared like a signal in a tunnel. Jaylen Brown put up 20, but it came on 23 shots, and he faded in the fourth like everyone else in green. Even Brown admitted the team was “settling.” That’s one word for it. Another is panicking.

Meanwhile, the Knicks are doing just the opposite. They’re thriving in chaos.

Jalen Brunson is painting a masterpiece, one fourth quarter at a time. He’s got 77 fourth-quarter points in seven playoff games — more than anyone else. More than Kobe in ’08. More than Curry in ’23. Against the Celtics in Game 2, he put up 9 in the final five minutes, and calmly knocked down the game-icing free throws with 12.7 seconds to go.

But this isn’t a one-man show. Mikal Bridges dropped 14 in the fourth and erased Tatum’s last hope with a game-saving block. Josh Hart lit up for 23 points. Karl-Anthony Towns? Just a casual 21 and 17 like it’s a Tuesday in Minnesota.

The Knicks didn’t just win. They sent a message: We don’t care about your banners. We’re here to end dynasties, not admire them.

And now? It’s Boston staring at the wrong end of history. The Celtics once pulled off a 32-point comeback — their largest ever — against the Spurs in 2021. But that was a midseason miracle. This is the playoffs, and it’s the Knicks making history in your building. Two blown 20-point leads, back-to-back, at TD Garden. This isn’t just a gut punch — it’s a legacy bruise. If Boston wants to flip the script, they’ll need more than belief. They’ll need their own version of that 2021 fight… but with the season on the line.