Knicks Dominate Celtics to Make History
Madison Square Garden hadn’t seen a night quite like this in decades. The New York Knicks blew past the Boston Celtics in a relentless 119-81 victory, the kind of win that sends shockwaves across the league and had every orange and blue fan on their feet before halftime. It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
Let’s talk numbers. By halftime, New York had already built a 27-point cushion, holding the Celtics to a cold 17 points in the second quarter. The roar inside the Garden grew with each defensive stop and fast-break bucket. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby set the pace, each nailing 23 points, with Anunoby also snatching 9 boards in a two-way performance that suffocated Boston’s flow. Karl-Anthony Towns threw in 21 points, stretching the Celtics’ defense to the breaking point.
What really made it click for the Knicks, though, was the bench. Miles McBride came on strong with 10 points, while Mitchell Robinson came off the bench and the stats sheet practically glowed with his impact — he was +20, controlling the paint and owning the boards while Boston scrambled for answers.
Celtics Struggle to Cope Without Tatum
Of course, the Celtics were playing without their top gun, Jayson Tatum, who was out with a ruptured Achilles. There’s no way around it: Boston badly missed his scoring and leadership. Jaylen Brown tried to shoulder the load, tossing in 20 points, but it was like bailing water from a sinking ship. The entire Boston crew shot a rough 32% from the floor. Defensively, they seemed to be a step slow all night, watching as Knicks starters easily piled up 20 or more points each.
The wheels really came off for Boston early in the third. As New York’s lead ballooned to 41, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla waved the white flag, pulling his starters in damage control mode. The Knicks’ 38-point win doesn’t just look good on paper — it’s the franchise’s biggest playoff blowout ever. Hard to ignore how hungry this New York team looks.
And now, the next chapter. The Knicks will meet the Indiana Pacers in what should be a fiery Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 is set for May 21 at 8 p.m. ET. Knicks fans have waited 25 years for this moment, and as the banners hang and the crowds buzz, you get the feeling they aren’t planning on this ride ending soon.
Write a comment