The 1980s Celtics’ championship window closed with injuries to Kevin McHale’s foot and Larry Bird’s back. The 2008 championship core missed a chance for more when Kevin Garnett was injured in 2009 and Kendrick Perkins went down in 2010.

After entering their Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks as heavy favorites, the Boston Celtics now find themselves, incredibly, one loss from elimination. The defending champions didn’t blow a 20-point lead this time—just a 14-point one—before falling 121-113 at Madison Square Garden.

Twenty-three seconds later, the Knicks were up 113-104 and Celtics star Jayson Tatum was being helped off the court after suffering a non-contact injury to his lower body.