• The Knicks crushed the Celtics 119-81 at Madison Square Garden, advancing to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
• Jalen Brunson (23 points) and Josh Hart (triple-double) led a dominant team performance, while Boston struggled without Jayson Tatum.
• Up next: A tough rematch with the Pacers, who eliminated the Knicks last year. Can New York keep the momentum alive?

The New York Knicks sent the Boston Celtics packing with a jaw-dropping 119-81 beatdown Friday night at Madison Square Garden. For a franchise and fanbase that hasn’t sniffed an NBA Finals since Titanic ruled the box office, this one felt different. The defending champs were supposed to be the immovable object in New York’s Cinderella story, but instead, they looked more like a wet paper bag. Boston’s collapse wasn’t just poetic—it was karmic.

Jayson Tatum’s absence (RIP to the Celtics’ hopes after his Game 4 Achilles injury) was glaring, but let’s not pretend Boston was ever in this game. The Knicks exploited every weakness in Boston’s lineup, like a scammer with your grandma’s Facebook password. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 23 points despite foul trouble, while OG Anunoby dropped another 23 because why not? Throw in Josh Hart’s triple-double (10 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds—the first Knicks postseason triple-double since Walt Frazier), and you’ve got a team that finally decided to show up when it mattered.

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Knicks Fans, Calm Down (A Little)

Before New Yorkers start planning their first championship parade since 1973, some perspective: This is still a franchise that nearly choked against the Pistons two weeks ago. The Knicks couldn’t close Game 5 at home in Round 1, forcing them to finish the job in Detroit. Sound familiar? This team loves to flirt with disaster before pulling it together. But hey, at least they’ve avoided going full Knicks so far.

Friday’s game was arguably their most complete performance all year. Four players scored at least 21 points. They played defense like they actually cared. Even their ball movement—usually as predictable as a Marvel movie plot—looked sharp. Credit Tom Thibodeau for keeping this squad focused. But let’s not forget how thin the line is between “focused” and “imploding” when it comes to the Knicks.

Indiana Pacers: The Real Test

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Up next? A rematch with the Indiana Pacers, who just body-slammed the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games and are well-rested. Remember last year, when the Pacers came back from a 2-0 hole to knock the Knicks out of the playoffs? Yeah, so do we. The Knicks better bring every ounce of grit they have, or they’re toast.

The good news? The Pacers aren’t exactly flawless. Their core is solid, but they’re beatable if New York plays like they did Friday. The bad news? The Knicks are historically terrible at maintaining momentum. Can they handle the pressure, or will they fold faster than a cheap beach chair?

Boston’s Postmortem: A Lesson in Overhype

Let’s talk about the Celtics for a second. How does a team that spent all year flexing as the defending champs get demolished like this? Sure, Tatum’s injury was a gut punch, but Boston’s bench was exposed as wildly overrated. And if we’re being honest, the Celtics’ arrogance all season made this flop even sweeter. Sorry, Boston fans—it’s not 2008 anymore. Maybe next year.

Takeaways and What’s Next

Here’s where we stand: The Knicks are on fire (for now), and their fanbase is buzzing. But this is New York, where optimism is just a prelude to heartbreak. The Pacers are no joke, and the Knicks will need to play near-perfect basketball to survive. Still, if they can maintain the energy and focus from Game 6, this team just might make some noise in the Eastern Conference Finals.

What do you think? Are the Knicks legit, or are we just waiting for the inevitable collapse? Follow The Dupree Report on WhatsApp for more updates, hot takes, and (probably) Knicks rants. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to share the article—because we all know Knicks fans love a good debate.

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