In front of a Madison Square Garden crowd jam-packed with celebrities and stars, the New York Knicks secured their first Eastern Conference Finals berth in 25 years after defeating the rival Boston Celtics.
The Knicks returned home knowing that a Game 6 victory would send their northeast foes back to Massachusetts.
With Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, and Bad Bunny watching on, the Knicks ensured that elimination was a surefire thing – with a dominant second quarter the basis of a 119-81 blowout to win the series 4-2.
The Knicks are back in the conference finals for the first time since 2000. They’ll play the same team they faced that season, the Indiana Pacers.
Without superstar Jayson Tatum, whose season ended with a torn Achilles suffered in Game 4, the Celtics struggled – shooting 36 percent in the loss.
Meanwhile, the Knicks’ core showed out – with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby leading the way with 23 points.
Not that it’s a complete surprise. From the moment that Tatum’s season ended, this result was coming.
Sure, the Celtics put up a brave effort in Game 5 in the face of elimination. Derrick White put up 34 points, Jaylen Brown dropped a double-double, and the Celtics won by 25 in front of their fans at TD Garden to show they could be resilient without Tatum.
But no one, not even the most jaded Celtics fan, could expect that effort to last forever – and certainly not long enough to motivate them to a conference final.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
