NEW YORK Knicks dethroned Boston Celtics with a commanding 119-81 victory in Game 6 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
OG Anunoby led the team with 23 points, including four three-pointers, while Jalen Brunson contributed 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists, securing the series for the Knicks with a 4-2 score.
Miles Bridges added 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, Josh Hart achieved a triple-double with 10 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds, and Mitch McBride scored 10 points for New York.
The Knicks held a 26-20 lead at the end of the first quarter and surged in the second quarter with baskets from Anunoby, Towns, and Brunson, extending their halftime lead to 64-37.
New York continued to pull away in the second half with outside shots from Bridges and Anunoby, increasing their advantage to 107-70 with seven minutes remaining in the game.
By eliminating the defending champions Celtics, the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, where they will face the Indiana Pacers.
“The goal is always to win a championship. We have eight wins (after the Eastern Conference semifinals), we need 16,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau after the game.
“You’ve got to win games different ways. Every game is different. There’s really no carry over from one game to the next,” he added.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 20 points before fouling out in the third quarter, while Payton Pritchard and Al Horford added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The Celtics were hampered in the series after Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury late in Game 5./PN
BOX SCORE
NEW YORK 119 — Brunson 23, Anunoby 23, Bridges 22, Towns 21, Hart 10, McBride 10, Achiuwa 6, Kolek 3, Robinson 1, Shamet 0, Tucker 0, Payne 0.
BOSTON 81 — Brown 20, Pritchard 11, Horford 10, White 8, Hauser 6, Kornet 5, Scheierman 5, Holiday 4, Porzingis 4, Craig 3, Tillman 2, Queta 2, Davison 1, Walsh 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20; 64-37; 92-57; 119-81.
