The New York Knicks emphatically eliminated the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics with a 119-81 victory on Saturday morning, securing their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 23 points as the Knicks completed a 4-2 series win in front of a star-studded Madison Square Garden crowd.
Six Knicks scored in double figures, delivering a franchise-record 38-point play-off victory.
The Celtics, missing injured star Jayson Tatum, couldn’t overcome the Knicks’ dominant performance. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 20 points.
“This is great,” said Brunson, whose father played on the last Knicks team to reach this stage in 2000. “We responded tonight.”
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau hailed his team’s “terrific” performance.
The Knicks now face the Indiana Pacers for a place in the NBA finals, with Game 1 on Thursday.
