The New York Knicks have reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, delivering a stunning 119-81 blowout against the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden. This emphatic victory marks one of the most dominant playoff performances in Knicks history and sets up a showdown with the Indiana Pacers—the same rival from their last conference finals appearance in 2000.
The New York Knicks made history Friday night, dismantling the Boston Celtics in a Game 6 rout to earn their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in a quarter-century. Behind the balanced scoring of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby—each contributing 23 points—the Knicks ended Boston’s title defense with a commanding 38-point win, the largest margin ever by a defending champion facing elimination in NBA postseason history.
With Madison Square Garden packed to the rafters and brimming with playoff energy, the Knicks delivered a performance for the ages. The last time New York won a playoff series at home was in 1999 during the Eastern Conference Finals. That drought ended in spectacular fashion as the Knicks overwhelmed Boston from the opening tip and never let up.
Knicks’ Historic Playoff Night
New York's 119-81 victory not only ended Boston’s postseason run but also marked the largest playoff win in franchise history. Mikal Bridges scored 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21, complementing a team effort that overwhelmed the Celtics, who were without star Jayson Tatum due to a ruptured Achilles suffered in Game 4.
Josh Hart added a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, further fueling the Knicks’ momentum. The team exploded in the second quarter, outscoring Boston 36-17 and taking a commanding 64-37 lead into halftime—a 27-point advantage that tied their largest in a playoff game during the shot-clock era.
Celtics Collapse Without Tatum
The Celtics, who entered the postseason with championship aspirations, faltered without Tatum, their leading scorer. Jaylen Brown tried to carry the load, scoring 20 points, but fouled out with nearly three minutes left in the third quarter—the second-earliest disqualification in a playoff game since the NBA began tracking play-by-play data in the 1997-98 season.
Coach Joe Mazzulla began emptying his bench midway through the third quarter, with the Knicks leading by as many as 41 points. Boston, which had led by at least 14 points in each of the first five games of the series, never found its rhythm in Game 6. New York capitalized with a relentless offensive and defensive effort that sealed the Celtics’ fate.
Celebrity Energy and Garden Glory
Madison Square Garden was electric all night, with celebrities like Ben Stiller, Lenny Kravitz, Timothée Chalamet, and Bad Bunny energizing the crowd from courtside. The Knicks faithful—who have waited decades for a return to this stage—were in full voice as the celebration began well before the final buzzer.
One highlight came when 6-foot-1 guard Deuce McBride made a highlight-reel chasedown block on Derrick White, setting up a fast-break score by Hart that ignited a thunderous roar inside the arena.
From Underdogs to Eastern Conference Finalists
The Knicks’ journey to the Eastern Conference Finals is particularly remarkable given their previous struggles against Boston and Cleveland. During the regular season, New York went a combined 0-8 against both teams. Yet in the playoffs, they flipped the script—coming back from multiple 20-point deficits in Boston and dominating Game 6 at home.
Their next opponent, the Indiana Pacers, will rekindle memories of the classic Knicks-Pacers rivalry that defined Eastern Conference basketball in the late '90s. Game 1 is set for Wednesday night in New York, and anticipation is already sky-high.
Knicks Rewrite Playoff History
-
Largest playoff win in franchise history: 38-point margin
-
Largest playoff loss by a defending champion: 38 points
-
Celtics’ 3rd-worst playoff loss ever
-
First Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000
-
First home playoff series win since 1999
This victory is not just a step forward—it’s a statement. The Knicks have re-established themselves as legitimate contenders, blending grit, defense, and offensive depth under the leadership of Brunson, Anunoby, and coach Tom Thibodeau.
As the city of New York erupts in celebration and the Garden prepares for another chapter in the playoffs, one thing is clear: the Knicks are no longer a team of the past—they are a force in the present.
#Knicks #Celtics #KnicksvsCeltics #NBAPlayoffs #Sport #TrendingNews
0 Comments