Camille Naredo

Josh Hart #3, Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. David L. Nemec, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

BOSTON, MA - May 7: Josh Hart #3, Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE   David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by David L. Nemec / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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2025 NBA Playoffs - New York Knicks v Boston Celtics - Game Two

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747454488631AFP__20250508__2213356609__v1__Preview__2025NbaPlayoffsNewYorkKnicksVBostonCelticsGa.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Josh Hart #3, Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. David L. Nemec, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Josh Hart #3, Mikal Bridges #25 and Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks high five during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round 2 Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. <em>David L. Nemec, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks thrashed the Boston Celtics 119-81 to send the defending champions crashing out of the NBA playoffs on Friday.</p><p>The Knicks booked their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years with a rampant display to complete a 4-2 series victory.</p><p>Six Knicks players finished in double figures, with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby leading the way with 23 points apiece.</p><p>Mikal Bridges drained four three-pointers on his way to 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21. Josh Hart finished with a triple-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.</p><p>The blowout win sets up a showdown against the Knicks&#x27; arch-rivals the Indiana Pacers next week for a place in the NBA Finals.</p><p>New York will head into that best-of-seven series brimming with confidence after an electrifying performance that swept aside a Boston team who had dominated the Knicks in a game five win on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;In game five they got the best of us and we responded tonight,&quot; Brunson told ESPN after Friday&#x27;s win. &quot;We just found a way to keep making plays on the defensive side, the offense was just rolling.&quot;</p><p>Brunson will spearhead the Knicks challenge 25 years after his father Rick was a member of the New York team that last played in the Eastern Conference finals in 2000.</p><p>&quot;This is great. I mean, the fact that we haven&#x27;t been here since my dad was on the team -- he&#x27;s not gonna like that -- but it means a lot to this organization and this city.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>- Complete performance -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hf2UCZtvWhg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said his team had delivered a complete performance to oust the reigning champions.</p><p>&quot;I thought from start to finish we were terrific,&quot; Thibodeau said. &quot;(The Celtics) are a terrific team on both sides of the ball. They play their style no matter what, and so they&#x27;re not going to hand you anything. You have to earn it. And I felt we did that.</p><p>&quot;But we can&#x27;t get carried away. Obviously it&#x27;s a great win and we advance. But you also understand that you have to get ready for the next series. We know that Indiana is a terrific team and we&#x27;re going to have to be ready.&quot;</p><p>A slew of celebrities such as Timothee Chalamet, Lenny Kravitz, Ben Stiller and Spike Lee were courtside at Madison Square Garden to see the Knicks romp to victory.</p><p>Boston -- who were dealt a crushing blow in game four with a season-ending injury to star Jayson Tatum -- had given their fans hope of a miraculous comeback after their Game 5 win.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/15/nba-tatum-less-boston-down-knicks-to-stay-alive-in-playoffs-1158">READ: Tatum-less Boston down Knicks to stay alive in playoffs</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/5/14/celtics-tatum-suffered-ruptured-right-achilles-in-playoff-defeat-1036">READ: Celtics&#x27; Tatum suffered ruptured right Achilles in playoff defeat</a></div><p>But those hopes were snuffed out in ruthless fashion as the Knicks edged into an early 26-20 first quarter lead before burying Boston in an avalanche of second quarter scoring.</p><p>The Knicks outscored the Celtics 38-17 in the second quarter to take a 64-37 lead at halftime, a 27-point cushion that all but extinguished Boston&#x27;s challenge.</p><p>New York kept the points flowing in the third quarter, stretching their lead to as many as 41 points at one stage as they surged to victory.</p><p>Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scoring with 20 points with Al Horford adding 10 points and Payton Pritchard finishing with 11.</p><p>Derrick White, who scored 34 points in Boston&#x27;s game five win on Wednesday, was kept quiet with just eight points.</p><p>&quot;At the end of the day, we set a goal out, and we didn&#x27;t achieve that goal,&quot; Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said afterwards.</p><p>&quot;But that shouldn&#x27;t take away from the mindset and effort that the players put in...the approach, the process, you can&#x27;t ask for anymore from the guys. I thought they gave everything they had throughout the season.</p><p>&quot;You have to take your hats off to the Knicks. They played a great series and they&#x27;ve been great all year, and Thibs is a great coach -- so you have to take your hat off to them.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>The New York Knicks thrashed the Boston Celtics 119-81 to send the defending champions crashing out of the NBA playoffs on Friday.</p>

The New York Knicks thrashed the Boston Celtics 119-81 to send the defending champions crashing out of the NBA playoffs on Friday.

NBA champion Celtics eliminated from playoffs by rampant Knicks

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NBA champion Celtics eliminated from playoffs by rampant Knicks

Agence France-Presse

Published May 17, 2025 12:02 PM PHT

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