With their backs against the wall, the Boston Celtics delivered a statement in Game 5, led by the dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Combining for an explosive 60 points, the pair reignited the Celtics’ playoff hopes and kept their season alive. The 112-97 win at TD Garden brought the series to 3-2, shifting the pressure back onto the New York Knicks as the series heads to Game 6 at Madison Square Garden.
Brown was a force from the opening tip, attacking the rim with aggression, knocking down mid-range shots, and playing tenacious defense. He finished the night with 33 points, setting the tone for a must-win performance. White, often the X-factor for Boston, lit up the scoreboard with 27 points of his own, showcasing his lethal three-point shooting and high basketball IQ. Together, they fueled a Celtics offense that looked sharper and more cohesive than it had in the previous two losses.
“We weren’t ready to go home,” Brown said after the game. “We know what we’re capable of when we play with pace, energy, and purpose. Tonight, we showed that.”
White echoed that sentiment, adding, “We’ve still got more work to do. Game 6 is going to be a battle, and we’ll be ready for it.”
On the other side, the Knicks are still in control of the series, up 3-2 and just one win away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000. Led by Jalen Brunson, who has been magnificent all postseason, the Knicks know they let an opportunity slip away in Game 5—but they also know they have another chance to close things out at home.
Brunson, averaging 29.4 points per game in the playoffs, struggled with efficiency in Game 5, facing double teams and tight defense all night. Julius Randle and Josh Hart were unable to provide the needed scoring punch, and the Knicks’ offense sputtered down the stretch. Still, with Game 6 in front of their home crowd, they remain confident.
“This isn’t over,” Brunson said postgame. “We’ve been here before. We’re going back to the Garden, in front of our fans. We’ll be ready.”
For the Celtics, the question is whether they can maintain this level of intensity and execution on the road. The team has been inconsistent this postseason, but Game 5 showed flashes of their true potential. If Brown and White continue to play at an elite level, and Jayson Tatum finds his rhythm again, a Game 7 back in Boston is very much within reach.
So now, it’s all eyes on Game 6. Can the Celtics extend the series and keep their championship hopes alive? Or will the Knicks finally break through and return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years?
One thing is certain: the stakes couldn’t be higher.
