The New York Knicks returned to make history. This Friday, in a full and vibrant Madison Square Garden, the New York team crushed the Boston Celtics 119-81, liquidated the series 4-2 and qualified for the first time in 25 years at the final of the NBA East conference. the last time that they had achieved was in the year 2000.

With this blunt victory, the knicks not only eliminated to champion defense, they also won the right to face the Indiana Pacers for a ticket to the finals of the NBA. The first party will be this Wednesday at home, and will be a rematch with history: the Pacers eliminated New York in the second round of the 2024 playoffs.

The memory is not minor.

In the year 2000, it was precisely Indiana who stopped the knicks in their last attempt to reach the top east. And in 1999, they also faced in these instances, but that time New York advanced to the finals, where they would fall before the San Antonio Spurs.

A Garden on and an unstoppable team

The illusion returned to the great apple. Jalen brunson led with offensive solidity and temper: 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Og anunoby was key on both sides of the court with others 23 points and 9 rebounds. and Josh Hart signed a triple-double (10-11-11), the first for a player of the Knicks in postseason since Walt Frazier in 1972.

Karl-Anthony Towns, with 21 points and 12 rebounds, marked the rhythm in the start, while mikal bridges contributed 22 units with a notable efficiency from the perimeter (4 of 7 in triples). The of Tom Thibodeau played their best party so far in the playoffs. their energy, their defense and the force life in the rebound (55 against 36) marked the difference.

From another side, the Celtics arrived very diminished. The low due to injury of jays tatum was a very blow of the one that did not achieve recovery. Jaylen brown tried to load with the team —20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists -, but was erratic and ended up eliminated by fouls before finishing the third room. in addition, lost 7 balls.

The night was disastrous for the rest team: derrick White (8 points), jrue holiday (4) and kristaps porzingis (4) were unrecognizable. Boston barely conducted the 29.3% of its triples (12 41) and was superior in intensity, tactic and execution.

In the first half, everything was already decided. The Knicks went into the break with a 64-37 lead, their largest halftime margin in playoff history. And the Celtics recorded their worst scoring output in a half all season.

The Garden was a party. With celebrities like bad bunny and timothée chamet in first row, the fans lived an unforgettable night.