NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
In a commanding manner, the New York Knicks secured their first journey to the Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.
There was no suspense; it was merely a 48-minute celebration at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks delivered a thorough beating to the defending champion Boston Celtics, finishing Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a decisive 119-81 win, which matched their largest lead of the season at 41 points.
Six Knicks players scored in double digits, with Josh Hart achieving his first career playoff triple-double (10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists). However, it was the defense that truly shined, especially in light of their recent performances on that end of the court.
Here are some insights, remarks, statistics, and video clips as the Knicks clinched a playoff series at home for the first time since 1999.
In the first five games of this series, the Knicks posted their poorest three-game defensive stretch of the season, allowing 129.6 points per 100 possessions. It was only due to a massive offensive display in Game 4 that they managed to clinch a win and secure three opportunities to seal this series.
Game 6 showcased perhaps the strongest defense the Knicks have exhibited all season. By the time a couple of non-rotation players entered for the Celtics with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter, the Celtics had managed to score just 51 points on 69 possessions (0.74 points per possession). This performance would have ranked as the fourth-worst offensive outing for any team this season, whether in the regular season or playoffs.
While Boston played without Jayson Tatum, who was out with an injury, Kristaps Porziņģis struggled throughout the series, yet the Celtics demonstrated in Game 5 their capacity to score effectively with the remaining roster.
For the Knicks, their loss in Game 5 was mainly attributable to their defensive shortcomings. Following the tone of Game 6, they seemed justified in believing so. While the Celtics took some ill-advised attempts, the Knicks effectively forced them into challenging shots.
“Our preparation, communication on the court, and our emphasis on having each other’s back all focused on defense,” Jalen Brunson commented. “When we do that, our offense naturally flows.”
Following an emotionally charged Game 5 win that extended the series, the Celtics struggled to find their rhythm as the Knicks established an early and relentless lead.
Strong defense, both good and bad, often begins in transition. The Knicks succeeded in denying the Celtics easy points or open three-point opportunities in the fast break. After averaging 80 points on 52 transition possessions (1.54 points per possession) in Games 3-5, the Celtics were limited to just 16 points on 25 possessions (0.64 points per possession) in Game 6, according to Synergy tracking data.
“Our commitment to defensive transitions was evident,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau remarked. “Players were supporting each other, communicating well, and understanding what necessary adjustments we needed to win.”
Despite their heavily relied-upon starting lineup being outscored by 24 points across 121 minutes in this series, the Knicks triumphed. While their bench may not see extensive action, it finished the regular season as the ninth-best in the league, and a specific reserve proved critical in this series.
Mitchell Robinson, who had been sidelined for the first 58 games of the season and made his debut on February 28, has now transformed the Knicks’ defensive situation after they struggled prior to his return. It became evident that the Knicks were fortunate to have Robinson available, averting significant struggles following Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure.
In the series, the Knicks outperformed with Robinson on the court by a staggering 30 points per 100 possessions (plus-18.1) compared to when he was off (minus-11.9), demonstrating strong disparities on both sides of the ball.
In Game 6, he executed an impressive defensive possession, rotating to cover all Celtics players on the floor in just seven seconds, ultimately contesting Jaylen Brown in the corner and effectively stealing the ball from him.
Robinson played just over 13 minutes on Friday, yet during that span, the Knicks outscored the Celtics by 20 points.
Achieving a 38-point victory necessitates success on both ends of the court, and Game 6 represented the Knicks’ second most efficient offensive performance of the playoffs.
Brunson, with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting along with six assists, typically drives the team’s offense, but on this occasion, he didn’t have to overexert himself with contributions from OG Anunoby (23 points), Mikal Bridges (22 points), and Karl-Anthony Towns (21 points) joining him in surpassing the 20-point threshold.
Though Towns struggled from long-range, shooting just 1-for-6 from three-point territory and concluding the series at 3-for-19 (16%), he excelled inside the arc. The Knicks outscored the Celtics by 36 points in the paint (48-34) and at the free-throw line (19-7).
This success stemmed partially from Towns asserting himself against shorter defenders in the post, as well as capitalizing on the composure of the Knicks’ offense to draw the Celtics’ attention away from him.
In the upcoming conference finals, the Indiana Pacers will likely deploy a center to guard Towns more frequently than the Pistons or Celtics did. This could yield better perimeter opportunities for Towns, although the Knicks will still rely on him to perform at a high level on both ends.
The Knicks overcame the Celtics in six games and are now set to face a robust Pacers squad eager to push the pace.
Previously, six of the Knicks’ first seven playoff victories were decided by three points or fewer in the closing minutes, with the lone exception being Game 1 of the opening round, where a rapid 21-0 run turned an eight-point deficit into a lead.
This marks their first comfortable win of the playoffs, and although they triumphed by 38 points, the total score for the conference semis was Knicks 634, Celtics 631. Prior to Game 6, New York had been outscored by 27 points throughout their eleven playoff contests.
Coach Thibodeau wasn’t taking any risks with the score on Friday, ensuring that at least two starters remained on the court until the 4:22 mark in the fourth quarter, even when the lead never dipped below 30 after the early second half. In contrast, the Celtics substituted in their non-rotation players just under two minutes before the end of the third quarter.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. With this early exit from Game 7 avoided, the Knicks will enjoy three full days off (with no travel) before hosting the Pacers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday.
“It was definitely one of our stronger performances, but I still believe we have a long way to go,” Brunson stated. “We remain determined to improve.”
Anything can occur on any given night, even a 38-point blowout, but it is still remarkable that the Celtics’ title defense has ended so soon.
Last year’s Celtics were among the most formidable teams in NBA history, finishing with the fifth-best point differential when combining regular season and playoff performance. They returned all rotation players from that remarkable run, yet this season they struggled to replicate their previous success.
After suffering two shocking collapses in the first two games of this series, many believed they could still dominate the Knicks, a team they had historically bested over the past two years.
However, another missed opportunity in Game 4 and an injury to Jayson Tatum changed their prospects significantly.
Inside the NBA: What lies ahead for Jayson Tatum following the injury?
Tatum’s injury will undoubtedly influence the Celtics’ offseason planning. Unless there’s confidence he’ll recover to full strength within ten months, the team’s roster may not compete at the same high level next season as it has in recent years.
Furthermore, with contract extensions for Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser coming into effect, costs will be rising even if Al Horford and Luke Kornet aren’t re-signed. As a result, it’s conceivable that the Celtics may opt to trade away other veterans to manage their luxury tax implications.
At just 27 and 28 years of age, respectively, Tatum and Brown have plenty of time left in their championship window, but if they aspire for another title, it will likely necessitate adjustments to their supporting cast.
“Losing to the Knicks feels like a heavy blow,” Brown reflected. “But I was raised to believe that life moves on. We’ll prepare for whatever comes next.”
* * *
John Schuhmann serves as a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can reach him via email, explore his archives, and follow him on social media.
The perspectives expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
