In a dominant performance that will be remembered for years to come, the New York Knicks crushed the Boston Celtics 119-81 in Game 6 of their NBA playoff quarterfinal series, clinching a 4-2 series victory and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
The Madison Square Garden faithful were treated to a historic performance by Josh Hart, who recorded just the second playoff triple-double by a Knicks player in over five decades. Hart finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, joining Knicks legend Walt Frazier as the only players in franchise history to achieve the feat in postseason play. Frazier's triple-double came all the way back in 1972, making Hart's achievement even more significant.
"New York is going to the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years!" the NBA History social media account posted following the game, highlighting just how long the franchise's fans have waited for this moment.
The victory sets up an intriguing conference finals matchup against the Indiana Pacers, creating a fascinating full-circle moment for the franchise. It was the Pacers who eliminated the Knicks in their last conference finals appearance during the 1999-2000 season. According to Statbet's historical data, matchups between these two franchises have historically produced some of the most memorable playoff moments in Eastern Conference history.
The Knicks' convincing 38-point victory in the series clincher demonstrated their readiness to compete at the highest level as they continue their quest for a championship in 2025. New York fans now eagerly await the conference finals, hoping their 25-year wait for an NBA Finals appearance might soon come to an end as well.
