The Boston Celtics entered Game 5 without their star player, Jayson Tatum, yet they managed to sustain their series—and season—against New York.
New York initially created a gap, leading by up to nine points in the first half. However, Boston bounced back, leveling the score by halftime. The second half saw Boston dominate, outscoring New York 68-43 thanks to their relentless defense and exceptional long-range shooting, hitting 22-of-49 from beyond the arc. Derrick White topped the score sheet with 34 points, closely followed by Jaylen Brown who added 26 points and 12 assists.
The Knicks struggled offensively, shooting a mere 35.8 percent from the floor. Josh Hart led their effort with 24 points, while Jalen Brunson contributed 22 points but shot only 7-of-17 and exited early in the fourth quarter due to fouls. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby jointly managed just 5-of-26 shooting.
Game 6 is scheduled for Friday night at Madison Square Garden.