NEW YORK – The New York Knicks made history on Friday night with a dominating 119-81 victory over the Boston Celtics, punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter century.

Led by Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, who each poured in 23 points, the Knicks overwhelmed the short-handed Celtics at Madison Square Garden, sending thousands of fans into a frenzy both inside and outside the arena.

The electric atmosphere matched the magnitude of the moment. This was the Knicks’ biggest playoff win ever — a stunning 38-point blowout — and their first time advancing this far since 2000, when they also faced the Indiana Pacers, their next opponent. Game 1 tips off Wednesday night in New York.

“It’s a great win. We advance,” said head coach Tom Thibodeau. “But we’ve got to get ready for the next series. The Pacers are a terrific team.”

The Celtics were without star Jayson Tatum, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in Game 4, and couldn’t recover. Jaylen Brown tried to carry the load with 20 points, but the team quickly fell behind and never recovered. The Knicks jumped to a 64-37 halftime lead, matching their largest first-half playoff margin in the shot-clock era.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla pulled his starters early in the third quarter after the Knicks pushed the lead past 40 points.

“We didn’t have the same team this year that we had last year,” said Celtics guard Derrick White. “We had a goal, and we fell short.”

While the Knicks remained focused on their playoff journey, the city embraced the moment. Fans packed the streets, dancing and celebrating. Inside the Garden, celebrities like Ben Stiller and Lenny Kravitz stood and cheered alongside roaring crowds.

Josh Hart notched a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Mikal Bridges added 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in 21.

“I’m new here,” said Bridges, “but just seeing how much New York loves this team — it’s incredible to be a part of it.”

The Knicks are riding high, but the team is staying grounded. The celebration can wait — the Pacers are coming to town.

Source: AP News – Knicks beat Celtics 119-81 in Game 6 and advance to face Pacers in Eastern Conference finals

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