The New York Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after a hard-fought series against the Boston Celtics. Without Jayson Tatum, Boston’s offense struggled to find rhythm, while the Knicks took control with four players scoring over 20 points each in a statement performance. Following New York’s emphatic 119–81 win, NBA legend Magic Johnson weighed in on what went wrong for Boston.
“The Knicks blew out the Celtics 119-81 and because their role players OG Anunoby, Karl Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridgescombined for total 66 points versus the Celtics role players — Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard only had 23 total points combined…Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson finished with 23 points and Miles McBride had great contribution from the bench scoring 10 points. The Knicks defense smothered the Celtics tonight in their victory,” stated Magic Johnson on X, formerly Twitter.
Throughout the season, critics questioned Joe Mazzulla’s heavy reliance on Tatum to carry the offense. With no secondary scoring consistently stepping up, the Celtics entered the playoffs vulnerable. That lack of bench production ultimately caught up with them. While deeper teams like the Knicks could rotate stars and rest key players, Boston lacked the firepower and flexibility to keep pace without their cornerstone.
Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau has made one thing crystal clear: the most effective offense is one that’s both balanced and versatile. While Jalen Brunson has unquestionably been the driving force behind New York’s playoff success, the last two games have highlighted something just as important, the power of collective execution.
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the second half of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 14, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Indeed, Brunson continues to deliver standout performances. However, the emergence of multiple scoring options has allowed the Knicks to diversify their attack. As a result, opposing defenses can no longer key in on a single threat, which makes it significantly harder to disrupt their rhythm.
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What’s next for New York Knicks in the NBA postseason?
After punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, the New York Knicks are set to face the Indiana Pacers in a highly anticipated showdown. Game 1 tips off on Wednesday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden.
Both teams advanced without needing a full seven-game series in the semifinals. However, Indiana made a bold statement by knocking out the Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the top favorites to win the NBA title.
The Pacers also head into New York well-rested, having enjoyed an eight-day break, an edge that could pay off physically. Given their up-tempo offenses and deep rotations, fans can expect a tightly contested battle between two teams built for playoff basketball as Knicks have already shown they can thrive under pressure, which only adds to the intrigue of this matchup.
