The Knicks hope to close out the series against the reigning champs and advance to the ECF.
The New York Knicks have a chance to close out the defending champion Boston Celtics tonight at Madison Square Garden and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
Up 3-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Knicks return home with the momentum and the crowd behind them. Jalen Brunson remains their engine. The Knicks’ All-NBA point guard has carried the load through the postseason, and Captain Clutch continues to thrive under pressure. In Game Five, however, a weird whistle put him in second-half foul trouble, hindering his abilities to reach his cape and phone booth in time to spark a rally. He’ll likely need to don his superhero attire again if the Knicks are going to finish this in six.
On Wednesday, in what could have been a close-out game, New York played competitively through the first half and even won their first first-quarter of the series. Then Boston put their puke green, rotten-fish-smelling boot on the Knicks’ neck and kept it there until they won the game, 127-102.
Choose your own takeaways from the last game. Here are some options to consider:
- Oof, we forgot that Jaylen Brown’s pretty good, too.
- We should’ve baited Luke Kornet into foul trouble before he swatted down 72 shots.
- Jeez, Josh, you gotta shoot when you’re open.
- Can’t SOMEBODY chase Derrick White and Payton Pritchard off the three-point line?
- Boy, Karl does commit foolish fouls.
- Remember when Jalen was out, and OG Anunoby was vying for league scoring champ? Will these two ever learn to coexist consistently?
- If Mitchell Robinson can make free throws now, maybe he should start.
The path to glory—and the Indiana Pacers next week in the third round—is straightforward on paper/screen. Take open shots, make shots, hound the perimeter, limit mistakes, crash the glass, and send a rancid, complimentary pizza to Jaylen Brown’s hotel room. (Just kidding about that last one—besides, it didn’t work for Utah.)
Prediction
ESPN.com likes the Knicks at 58%. Us, too. Madison Square Garden should be electric. Knicks fans know what’s at stake, and our heroes should thrive off their energy. With Indiana already waiting in the next round, tonight is New York’s best shot to end this series and save the extra mileage of a Game Seven. The Celtics are wounded (Tatum’s out, and Porzingis might as well be), but they remain dangerous. Brown, White, and a confident bench will come out aggressive from the tip, and New York must match that. Will it be the game of the season? Could be one of them. Pick the Knicks. Hit the music.
Game Details
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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