KEYPOINTS SUMMARY: Celtics Crush Knicks
- Celtics win 127-102 in Game 5 to avoid elimination
- Derrick White explodes with 34 points and seven 3-pointers
- Boston drains 22 threes and dominates without injured star Jayson Tatum
- Jaylen Brown adds 26 points and 12 assists
- Celtics now trail 3-2 and head to New York for must-win Game 6
- Knicks collapse in second half despite strong start
- Boston eyes historic 3-1 comebackโonly 13 teams have done it in NBA history
Boston Strikes BackโCeltics Blow Out Knicks in Game 5 to Stay Alive!
Just when it looked like the New York Knicks were about to end Bostonโs season for good, the Celtics ROARED back in Game 5 with a statement win that lit up TD Garden and sent a message across the league: They are not done yet.
Final score? A massive 127-102 win that completely turned the momentum in this seriesโand they did it without their injured superstar Jayson Tatum.
Derrick White Catches Fire
With Tatum out after his heartbreaking Achilles injury, Boston needed someone to step up.
Enter Derrick White, who exploded for:
- 34 points
- 7 three-pointers
- 12-of-19 shooting overall
He was absolutely unconscious from deep and completely unguardable, especially in the third quarter where he buried the Knicks with dagger after dagger.
Jaylen Brown Becomes The General
With the Celticsโ leader sidelined, Jaylen Brown took over as the floor general:
- 26 points
- 12 assists
- Zero panic, full control
Brown not only scored efficiently but got everyone involved. He even stood toe-to-toe in a heated moment with Josh Hart, keeping the emotional edge Boston needed.
โWe knew what was at stake. Our season was on the line,โ Brown said after the game. โWe didnโt come this far to quit now.โ
Kornetโs Block Party
Bostonโs unsung hero of the night?
Luke Kornet, who came out of nowhere with:
- 10 points
- 9 rebounds
- 7 blocks
Thatโs rightโSEVEN blocks. The Knicks couldnโt get anything easy around the rim, and Kornet made sure of it.
Knicks Start Hot, Then Vanish
New York came out swinging in the first half:
- Josh Hart: 24 points, despite getting bloodied in the first
- Jalen Brunson: 22 points before fouling out early in the fourth
- Hit 8 threes and led by 9 points at one point
But once the second half began? The Knicks fell apart.
Boston closed the third quarter on a 23-9 run, turning a tied game into a 15-point lead by the start of the fourth.
And they never looked back.
Physical Play Reaches Boiling Point
Game 5 wasnโt just about scoringโit was a battle.
- Hart and Brown got into a face-to-face skirmish
- Fouls were flying
- Brunson picked up his fifth foul late in the third
- And tempers were flaring all night
But the Celtics thrived in the chaos, while the Knicks just looked rattled.
Knicks Still Lead 3-2โฆ But the Pressure Is Mounting
Letโs not forget: New York still holds the edge in this series. Game 6 will be at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, and a win there sends them to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But after this meltdown? Thatโs far from guaranteed.
โIf the Knicks donโt come out swinging in Game 6, theyโll hand all the power back to Boston,โ one analyst said.
If Boston forces a Game 7, theyโll host it at TD Gardenโwhere momentum and history could carry them through.
Can the Celtics Make NBA History?
Only 13 teams in 293 attempts have come back from a 3-1 playoff deficit.
Now Boston has a shot at becoming lucky number 14.
Theyโve already overcome:
- A devastating Tatum injury
- A 3-1 hole
- A red-hot Knicks squad
And with White and Brown leading the charge? They suddenly look like a team no one wants to face.
Whatโs Next?
Game 6:
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
Madison Square Garden
Friday, 7:00 PM ET
TNT
Knicks lead series 3-2
Game 7 (If Necessary):
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
TD Garden
Monday, Time TBD
Celtics Arenโt Done Yet โ Celtics Crush Knicks
The Celtics were one half away from elimination. Now? Theyโre breathing fire.
This isnโt just a winโitโs a message. And itโs got fans, analysts, and sportsbooks scrambling to adjust.
If New York doesnโt get it together in Game 6, they may find themselves on the wrong end of a historic collapse.
Because the Celtics believe. And now? So do we.
