The Boston Celtics aren’t ready to go home just yet.
With their season on the line and superstar
Jayson Tatum sidelined by a season-ending Achilles injury, the Celtics delivered a dominant performance in Game 5, defeating the New York Knicks 127-102 on Wednesday night to stay alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Celtics Rally Without Tatum to Extend Season
Head coachJoe Mazzulla urged his team to empty the tank and focus on one goal — winning a single game. His message hit home.
“You don’t get to pick the test you face — only how you respond,” said Mazzulla after the win.
Boston answered with a spirited effort at both ends of the court, led by Derrick White, who poured in 34 points, including seven 3-pointers. White set the tone early and kept the Celtics firing on all cylinders.
“Losing JT is tough,” White said. “But we’ve got a lot of guys that are highly competitive, and we didn’t want the season to end tonight.”
Key Celtics Performers – Game 5
- Derrick White: 34 PTS, 7 3PM
- Jaylen Brown: 26 PTS, 12 AST
- Payton Pritchard: 17 PTS, 5 3PM
- Luke Kornet: 10 PTS, 9 REB, 7 BLK
- Team Total: 22 3-pointers made
Kristaps Porzingis played just 12 minutes, struggling with a viral illness. Kornet filled in admirably, protecting the paint and helping Boston dominate defensively in the second half.
Boston's 22 made threes and relentless pace overwhelmed New York, especially during a 23-9 run to close the third quarter. The Celtics carried a 91-76 lead into the fourth and never looked back, building the margin to as much as 28 points.
Knicks Fall Flat Despite Early Fight
Despite briefly holding a nine-point lead in the first half, the Knicks couldn’t maintain their momentum. Josh Hart led New York with 24 points,even after taking an inadvertent elbow and returning from a cut above his eye.
- Josh Hart: 24 PTS
- Jalen Brunson: 22 PTS (fouled out with 7:19 remaining)
- Mikal Bridges: “We’ve got to play desperate. I don’t think we did that.”
The Knicks made eight 3-pointers in the first half and benefited from 10 second-chance points, but they faltered under the Celtics’ second-half pressure. Mitchell Robinson went 4-for-4 at the free throw line early, countering Boston’s intentional foul strategy — but his impact faded late.
Series Outlook: Celtics vs. Knicks
- Series: Knicks lead 3-2
- Game 6: Friday night in New York
- Game 7 (if needed): Monday in Boston
The Celtics are now attempting to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 playoff deficit (out of 294 attempts).
With momentum swinging back in their favor, Boston has rekindled its postseason hopes and turned Game 6 at Madison Square Garden into a must-watch showdown.
