A Collapse in the Garden
The Boston Celtics’ bid to defend their NBA title ended in humiliation Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Blown out 119-81 by the New York Knicks, Boston fell in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals — closing the door on a once-promising season.
“Finishing in May feels weird,” said Jaylen Brown, who fouled out with 20 points and seven turnovers. “Losing to the Knicks feels like death.”
Game 5 had offered a glimmer of hope. But the loss of Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4 proved too steep a hill to climb. Without their All-NBA cornerstone, Boston was simply overrun.
Knicks Dominate Every Facet
From the opening tip, the Knicks never trailed. They stormed to a 41-point lead at one point, outmuscling the Celtics in nearly every category:
-
Shooting: Celtics 33% from the field
-
Rebounding: Knicks 55, Celtics 36
-
Second-Chance Points: Knicks 25, Celtics 11
-
Points in the Paint: Knicks 48, Celtics 34
Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla shuffled the starting five yet again, inserting Luke Kornet at center. It made no difference. New York’s size and physicality overwhelmed the shorthanded Celtics.
“They outplayed us,” Mazzulla said. “You have to tip your hat off to the Knicks.”
Porzingis Fades on the Big Stage
Kristaps Porzingis, who had been electric against the Knicks in the regular season, was barely a factor. Hampered by illness since February, he averaged just 4.2 points on 6-of-25 shooting in the series.
“Especially with JT going out — to not be able to help this team more just hurts deep inside,” Porzingis admitted.
The Latvian big man now plans to undergo additional testing and rest before competing for Latvia at EuroBasket later this summer.
Tatum’s Injury Shifts Everything
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear casts a long shadow over Boston’s future. The recovery timeline could cost him the entire 2025–26 season. Without their franchise centerpiece, the Celtics face a daunting challenge — and potentially a lost year.
Compounding matters is the team’s financial outlook. Boston’s payroll could climb close to $500 million, an NBA record, if the current core is retained. And with a new ownership group led by Bill Chisholm set to take control, long-term plans remain unclear.
A Core in Question
The team that won 64 games in the regular season is now fractured. Derrick White acknowledged the emotional weight in the locker room.
“You’re never going to have the exact same team again. There were highs and lows, but right now it’s just kind of down.”
What’s Next?
Boston’s path forward is uncertain:
-
Can they afford to keep the roster together?
-
Will they retool or rebuild with Tatum sidelined?
-
What will new ownership prioritize?
From the moment Tatum went down to the final buzzer in Game 6, the Celtics’ title defense crumbled. Now, instead of preparing for the conference finals, Boston faces a summer of decisions — and difficult ones at that.
