NBA champion Celtics eliminated from playoffs by rampant Knicks
NEW YORK: The New York Knicks thrashed the Boston Celtics 119-81 to send the defending champions crashing out of the NBA playoffs on Friday. The Knicks booked their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years with a rampant display to complete a 4-2 series victory. Six Knicks players finished in double figures, with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby leading the way with 23 points apiece. Mikal Bridges drained four three-pointers on his way to 22 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 21. Josh Hart finished with a triple-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. The blowout win sets up a showdown against the Knicks’ arch-rivals the Indiana Pacers next week for a place in the NBA Finals. New York will head into that best-of-seven series brimming with confidence after an electrifying performance that swept aside a Boston team who had dominated the Knicks in a game five win on Wednesday. “In game five they got the best of us and we responded tonight,” Brunson told ESPN after Friday’s win.
