San Antonio Spurs center-forward Luke Kornet, right, tries to block a shot by Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe during the first half in Game 4 of their first-round NBA playoff series in Portland, Ore., on Sunday. (AP photo)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — After the Boston Celtics rolled in Philadelphia and the San Antonio Spurs roared back in Portland, the No. 2 seeds in the NBA playoffs are on the verge of advancing.

The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks might still need a while to settle things in their series.

Game 5 with a 2-2 tie has long been the pivotal moment of a series, and the first one of this postseason arrives tonight at Madison Square Garden.

In seven-game series that were tied 2-2, the team that took Game 5 won 81.5% of the time. It’s a pressure-packed moment, and coach Mike Brown believes his Knicks are prepared for it.

“This group’s a relentless group. They’re an experienced group. They perform best, it seems, when their backs are against the wall, so I believe our guys are ready,” he said Monday.

The other two Game 5s tonight can finish series. The Celtics are up 3-1 on the 76ers and the Spurs hold the same lead on the Trail Blazers, with both teams ready to wrap things up on their home floor.

However, the Celtics and Spurs both lost Game 2 of their series when they last played at home.

So did the No. 3-seeded Knicks, who then went and dropped Game 3 in Atlanta before evening things with a 114-98 victory on Saturday. They know they are already facing another trip to Atlanta for Game 6 Thursday but don’t want to be having to save their season of huge expectations that night by blowing another game on their home court first.

Here are previews of tonight’s Game 5s:

Philadelphia at Boston

When: 7 p.m. EDT, ESPN

Series: Celtics lead, 3-1.

Betting line: Celtics by 11.5.

What to Know: The Celtics made a franchise playoff-record 24 3-pointers in their 128-96 victory in Game 4 on Sunday — their second 32-point victory of the series. Joel Embiid had 26 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes in his return after having an appendectomy on April 9, but their big man can’t save the 76ers unless they get back the VJ Edgecombe they had in their Game 2 victory in Boston.

Atlanta at New York

When: 8 p.m. EDT, NBC/Peacock

Series: Tied, 2-2.

Betting line: Knicks by 6.5.

What to Know: The Knicks have appeared to be the better team during long stretches of the series, leading by 19 points in Game 1, 14 in the second half of Game 2 and 24 in Game 4. Yet the Hawks pulled out a pair of one-point victories, including Game 2 at MSG. CJ McCollum averaged 29 points in the two games in New York.

Portland at San Antonio

When: 9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN

Series: Spurs lead, 3-1.

Betting line: Spurs by 12.5.

What to Know: The Spurs wiped out a 15-point deficit in Game 3 and then stormed back from 19 down in Game 4. Victor Wembanyama looked fine Sunday, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots after missing Game 3 with a concussion from Game 2. Scoot Henderson was the star of Portland’s rally for victory in that game with 31 points, but the guard is coming off a scoreless, 0-for-7 performance in Game 4.

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