Boston Celtics Steamroll Knicks in Pivotal Game 5 Showdown
Game 5 between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks was supposed to be tight. Instead, Boston blew the doors off the matchup, torching New York 127-102 and grabbing a powerful series lead. With TD Garden rocking, the Celtics looked completely locked in from the opening tip, answering every Knicks challenge with toughness and skill.
It’s hard to overstate just how crucial Derrick White was. He dropped a blistering 34 points, drilling shots from all over the floor and keeping the Knicks reeling. The usually reliable Knicks defense just couldn’t find an answer for him. And White wasn’t alone: Jaylen Brown piled up a 26-point triple-double, stuffing the stat sheet and looking every bit like a star on a mission. The duo kept Boston’s offense humming, making smart passes, getting to the rim, and never letting New York regain their footing.
Boston’s bench wasn’t just along for the ride—it was a force. Luke Kornet, stepping in with poise, put up 10 points, snagged nine rebounds, and swatted away seven blocks. Every time the Knicks tried to find a spark inside, Kornet shut the door. His rim protection and rebounding helped Boston dominate the paint, forcing New York to settle for tough outside shots.
For New York, this game felt like running into a brick wall. Jalen Brunson tried to orchestrate the offense, but Boston’s aggressive defense smothered passing lanes and contested every shot. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett struggled to break free, and the Knicks’ normally energetic ball movement kept hitting roadblocks. When your bench gets outplayed this badly in a playoff game, it’s almost impossible to keep things close.
The first half ended with Boston already up double digits, but it was in the third quarter where the wheels truly came off for the Knicks. The Celtics spread the floor, moved the ball crisply, and rained down three-pointers. Fans could feel the Knicks’ confidence slipping away with each dagger shot from Brown and White.
Defense won’t show up as flashy on the highlight reel, but the Celtics made life miserable for New York every possession. Kornet’s blocks set the tone, but it was the team’s energy—switching, hustling, helping on drives—that really smothered the Knicks. Fast breaks turned into easy buckets for Boston, and turnovers only made things worse for New York.
The energy in TD Garden matched the Celtics’ intensity. By the fourth quarter, fans were already looking to Game 6, sensing their team was only one win away from advancing. If you’re the Knicks, regrouping for the next game will be about finding new ways to get Brunson and Randle better shots and hoping for a miracle defensive adjustment.
Now the series shifts back to New York for Game 6 on May 17, and the Knicks have their backs against the wall. The Celtics, meanwhile, seem to have hit their playoff stride at just the right time.