The drought is over! Epic scenes in New York as Knicks crush rivals in 25-year first

The New York Knicks are off to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 as they thrashed rivals the Boston Celtics in game six at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks are off to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 as they thrashed rivals the Boston Celtics in game six 119-81 at Madison Square Garden.

In a rematch of 25 years ago, the Knicks will meet the Indiana Pacers in the next round as they look to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since their last championship in 1999.

The Celtics have been vulnerable since Jayson Tatum went down with a ruptured Achilles in game four, and the Knicks took full advantage on their home court with four of their five starters scoring more than 20 points in a comprehensive display.

New York Knicks' Jalen Brunson (11) gestures during the game six win. Picture: AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

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OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson had an equal game-high 23 points as Anunoby completed a double-double courtesy of his ten rebounds.

Karl-Anthony Towns achieved the same feat with a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his 21 points, while Mikael Bridges dropped 22 points.

Meanwhile, Josh Hart, the other member of the starting five, pulled off a triple-double with 11 rebounds, 11 assists and ten points.

Miles McBride made an impact off the bench for the Knicks with ten points from his 32 minutes on the court.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau eventually took his main six players off with four minutes remaining after they have done serious damage, including a 38-17 second quarter that made the second half a procession.

KNICKS ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2000 🚨 pic.twitter.com/T9m6aWmUoC

— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2025

Jaylen Brown battled admirably for the Celtics with 20 points but he struggled to find enough support as Boston’s title defence came to an end.

The New York faithful were delighted to rub the fact into their long-time rivals as the 38-point margin was the biggest ever playoff win by the Knicks.

The scenes of jubilation at Madison Square Garden have not been seen previously this century as the crowd sang ‘hey, hey goodbye’ to the visitors in the dying minutes, and loyal fans celebrities hugged, cheered and danced.

The party then spilt out on the streets as fans left the arena.

MOOD pic.twitter.com/ZH1AfZf2mK

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 17, 2025

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN THE SCENE OUTSIDE MSG pic.twitter.com/pBMNHbSq5s

— Knicks Lead (@KnicksLead) May 17, 2025

It was a massive night of sport in the Big Apple as baseball’s the Yankees defeated cross-town rivals the Mets at Yankee Stadium, but all the spotlight is undeniably on the Knicks.

Unlike the perennial contenders the Yankees, the Knicks have been made to be patient.

One of their star player Brunson was running around the locker room as a three-year-old with his father Rick on the Knicks the last time they made it this far in the post-season.

“This is great. The fact that we haven’t been here since my dad played, or was on the team, he’s not going to like that,” Brunson said with a laugh.

“But it means a lot to the great people of this city.”

Game one of the Eastern Conference finals will be played at 10am AEST on Thursday 22 May at Madison Square Garden.

Originally published as The drought is over! Epic scenes in New York as Knicks crush rivals in 25-year first