The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks are battling in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, renewing their rivalry. New York holds a 3-2 series lead and needs just one more win to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Despite trailing, the Celtics are fighting back, notably without their star Jayson Tatum, who recently had surgery for a torn Achilles. Boston`s victory in Game 5 kept their season alive, but New York is the favorite heading into Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
In their Game 5 win in Boston, the Celtics saw strong performances from Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, who combined for 60 points. While the Knicks achieved significant come-from-behind road wins early in the series, they struggled more in Game 5 at TD Garden. Jalen Brunson had a tougher outing, scoring only 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting and eventually fouling out.
This series marks the first playoff meeting between these two historic franchises since 2013. In the first round, the defending champion Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic in five games, while the Knicks overcame the Detroit Pistons in a closer six-game series.
The team that wins this series will advance to face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The winner of the Knicks-Celtics series will have home-court advantage and host Game 1 of the ECF on Wednesday night.
Celtics vs. Knicks Schedule & Scores
Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)
Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90
Game 3: Celtics 115, Knicks 93
Game 4: Knicks 121, Celtics 113
Game 5: Celtics 127, Knicks 102 — New York leads 3-2
Game 6: Friday, May 16 | Knicks vs. Celtics | 8 p.m., ESPN/fubo
*Game 7: Monday, May 19 | Celtics vs. Knicks | 8 p.m., TNT/Max
Celtics vs. Knicks Odds
Series odds: Knicks -275, Celtics +225
Game 6 odds: Knicks -2.5, O/U 211.5
Celtics vs. Knicks Game 6 Prediction
Following Kristaps Porzingis` injury in Game 5, where Joe Mazzulla reported he couldn`t breathe, the Celtics will likely need their other big men to step up. Luke Kornet had a notable performance in Game 5 with a near triple-double, including seven blocks. While blocks can be inconsistent, his potential for points and rebounds is worth considering, especially rebounds in a high-stakes elimination game where missed shots are common. The Pick: Kornet Over 6.5 Rebounds
Jasper Hawthorne