Shorn of Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics adopted a different approach against the New York Knicks and it paid off with a 127-102 victory that keeps the Eastern Conference semi-final wide-open.
Tatum’s ruptured Achilles – suffered in Game 4 – was a hammer blow to the Celtics’ chances of repeating their title run of 12 months ago. With their star offensive weapon sidelined, the Celtics turned to defense to get the job done against the Knicks.
The plan succeeded and the series remains alive with the Knicks holding a 3-2 lead heading back to New York for Game 6 tomorrow night.
BARK BARK BARK BARK 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/ar1bQRZzK1
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 15, 2025
Jaylen Brown said: “We didn’t want to make no excuses. We didn’t want to come out and give up or just turn the season into what everybody else probably would expect.
“We just said to the guys, said to each other, ‘Let’s come out, keep an open mind. Just come out, play basketball and guard your ass off.”
Brown scored 32 points in a superb all-round display and Derrick White added 34 to deny the Knicks the chance to close the series out, much to the annoyance of coach Tom Thibodeau.
He said: “We had a lead [early]; didn’t play tough with the lead. Came out to start the third; didn’t play well there. Can’t afford to do that.”
Knicks didn’t underestimate Celtics – Brunson
Knicks star Jalen Brunson rubbished suggestions New York had been complacent given their series lead and the fact the Celtics had lost Tatum.
“No, not at all. Yes, they are missing a big piece. But they are a well-oiled machine that has been in situations where they’ve played without him, and they’ve played well,” Brunson said.
“We need to understand that and trust the game plan and play to win. It’s as simple as that.”
