Knicks reach conference finals for first time since 2000 with upset over Celtics

The New York Knicks are back in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since Bill Clinton’s final year in office. 

With a dominant 119-81 Game 6 victory over the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, the Knicks advanced to the conference finals, igniting New York’s passionate fan base into a blaze of celebration. 

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New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics centers Kristaps Porzingis (8) and Al Horford (42) and guards Jaylen Brown (7) and Derrick White (9) during the first quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.  (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

The Knicks were heavy underdogs going into the series, as the defending champs boasted the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 61-21, 10-games better than the 51-31 Knicks. 

But the Knicks took the first two games of the series in Boston, overcoming 20-point deficits late in the second-half both times to transform the outlook of the series. 

TIMBERWOLVES BEAT WARRIORS IN GAME 5 TO REACH WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR

Trainers help Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) off the court after he was injured during the second half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The Celtics ended up taking Game 3 in a lopsided 115-93 game, and looked on track to even up the series through the first four quarters of Game 4 with a solid lead. But another furious Knicks comeback, combined with Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffering a torn Achilles, put the Knicks up 3-1 with all the momentum.

Even without Tatum, the Celtics managed to stave off elimination at home in Game 5 with a 127-102 win. But when the series returned to Madison Square Garden, the Celtics appeared outmatched right away, falling into a deep deficit in Game 6 early in the game, as the Knicks led by 27 at halftime. 

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New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guards Derrick White (9) and Jaylen Brown (7) and center Luke Kornet (40) during the second quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.  (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

Now, the Celtics will go home facing uncertainty about next season with Tatum set to face a long recovery process.

The Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers, who they lost to in last year’s conference semifinals, seeking to get back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. 

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