The Boston Celtics were supposed to be finished. Down 3-1 in the series, missing their franchise star Jayson Tatum due to a devastating Achilles injury, and facing elimination against a surging New York Knicks squad. The defending champions looked like a team on the brink of collapse.
Instead, they roared back with a vengeance, delivering a 127-102 beatdown at TD Garden to force Game 6 and remind the basketball world that they are still very much alive.
For the first two quarters, the game was a battle. The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, kept pace with Boston, heading into halftime tied at 59. But when the Celtics emerged from the locker room, they flipped the script entirely.
Boston torched New York in the third quarter, going on a 23-9 run to take a commanding 91-76 lead heading into the fourth. The Knicks, who had been resilient all series, suddenly looked overwhelmed.
With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics needed someone to step up—and Derrick White answered the call. The sharpshooting guard dropped 34 points, including seven three-pointers, leading Boston’s offensive explosion.
White wasn’t alone. Jaylen Brown added 26 points and a career-high 12 assists, while Luke Kornet provided a defensive spark with seven blocks.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson fought hard, finishing with 22 points, but his night ended in frustration as he fouled out with 7:19 remaining. Without their leader, New York struggled to mount a comeback, and Boston pushed its lead as high as 28 points before closing out the win.
The Knicks still hold a 3-2 series lead, but momentum has shifted. Game 6 heads back to Madison Square Garden, where New York will have another chance to close out the series.
But after Boston’s dominant response, the pressure is now on the Knicks. Can they finish the job, or will the Celtics force a winner-takes-all Game 7?
