The Boston Celtics will not be defending their NBA title this season after suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The series concluded in Game 6 with a dominant 119-81 Knicks victory, ending Boston’s postseason run.
Star shooting guard Jaylen Brown, who earned over $49 million in the first year of his five-year deal with the Celtics, reflected on the early exit with disappointment but optimism. He admitted the loss was painful, especially falling to a team like the Knicks, and noted how difficult it was without teammate Jayson Tatum, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in Game 4.
“Losing to the Knicks feels like death. But I was taught that there’s life after death. So we’ll get ready for whatever’s next.”
-Jaylen Brown after getting eliminated by the Knicks pic.twitter.com/BdFFuZdBLq
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Despite the setback, Brown emphasized his determination to move forward and bounce back. “It’ll take time,” he said after the game. “Just sit back and kind of figure it out. But I’m excited. Things didn’t go our way this year and it’s unfortunate. But we hold our head up, regardless. Losing to the Knicks feels like death. But I was taught that there’s life after death. So we’ll get ready for whatever’s next.”
Tatum’s injury was a major blow for the Celtics, as he missed the final two games of the series. Still, Boston showed resilience by pushing the Knicks to six games before ultimately falling short.
With Boston now out, attention shifts to who will take their place in the NBA Finals. The Knicks, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, will face the Indiana Pacers for a chance at the title. For most of the key players involved in that upcoming series, this marks their first shot at an NBA Finals appearance.
In Game 6, the Knicks put on a spectacular team performance. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby were instrumental in the win. Four of them posted 20-point games, contributing to New York’s commanding victory.
Josh Hart recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Towns added a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. Anunoby had a standout performance with 23 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Brunson and Bridges also played crucial roles, scoring 23 and 22 points respectively.
The Knicks’ cohesive play and individual brilliance now have them just one series away from the NBA Finals, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the Eastern Conference playoffs.