- The Boston Celtics avoided elimination by defeating the New York Knicks 127-102
- Derrick White led the Celtics with 34 points, while Jaylen Brown added 26 points, 8 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists
- The series now stands at 3-2 in favor of New York, with Boston fighting to stay in the playoffs
Key Takeaways:
The reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, kept their slim hopes of defending the title alive with a commanding 127-102 victory over the New York Knicks (30:32, 29:27, 32:17, 36:26). The win helped the Celtics avoid elimination, reducing their deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinal series to 2-3.
This was Boston’s first game without their star player Jayson Tatum, who suffered a torn Achilles in the previous matchup. Despite his absence, the Celtics displayed resilience in a physical encounter at TD Garden, where New York’s Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson both ended up with cuts after intense clashes.
When we needed them most, they delivered 👏 pic.twitter.com/gQiAzMl3KP
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 15, 2025
Derrick White stepped up as the leading scorer for Boston, finishing with 34 points. Jaylen Brown was the only player to register a double-double with an impressive performance of 26 points, 8 rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists.
The Knicks saw Josh Hart lead their scoring efforts with 24 points. Dominican center Karl-Anthony Towns was close to a double-double, posting 19 points and 8 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson ended the night with 22 points.
Boston’s win keeps the series alive, but they remain on the brink of elimination, trailing 2-3. The winner of this series will advance to the Eastern Conference final against the Indiana Pacers, who convincingly eliminated the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers with a 4-1 series victory.