Tonight at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks host the Boston Celtics in a pivotal Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. With a 3-2 series lead, the Knicks are one win away from reaching their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000, but the defending champions from Boston won’t go quietly.
Jalen Brunson has been nothing short of sensational this postseason, averaging over 35 points per game and carrying the offensive load. However, in Game 5, the Knicks were overwhelmed, falling 127-102 as their defense unraveled in the second half. OG Anunoby’s fitness remains in question, and New York will need Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart to assert themselves physically. Backed by a roaring home crowd, the Knicks know this is their moment — and they can't afford to let it slip.
Even without Jayson Tatum (Achilles), Boston showed their pedigree in Game 5. Jaylen Brown stepped up, while Derrick White and the bench delivered when it mattered. The Celtics controlled the pace, hit their shots, and smothered New York defensively — a formula they’ll aim to replicate tonight. With the pressure now on the Knicks, Boston are hoping to flip the series and bring it back to TD Garden for a decisive Game 7.
Expect a physical, intense contest with playoff urgency written all over it. The Knicks will likely come out firing, feeding off the energy of the Garden, but Boston’s playoff experience and defensive discipline make them dangerous. Turnovers and rebounding will be key. If Brunson gets hot early, it could tilt the game toward New York — but if Boston can control tempo and get contributions across the board, they’re more than capable of stealing this one.
