by Daniel Johnson
Could 17, 2025
Spike Lee have to be someplace smiling.
Someplace, die-hard fan Spike Lee has an ear-to-ear grin because the Knicks head into Sport 1 of the Japanese Convention Finals after crushing the Boston Celtics—who blew two 20-point leads in back-to-back video games—giving New York a commanding 2-0 lead. The Celtics fought again to power a Sport 6, however the Knicks sealed it with a decisive 119-81 win.
In response to The AthleticNew York advances to their first convention finals since Rick Brunson, Larry Johnson, and Latrell Sprewell had been sporting uniforms, and including to the throwback Nineties vibe of the playoff sequence, they must face a resurgent Indiana Pacers crew led by Tyrese Halliburton; the Pacers eradicated the Knicks from the playoffs in 2024 after they received Sport 7 within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
The Knicks had been by no means at risk of dropping the sport after the second quarter. They started that interval with a six-point lead, and by quarter’s finish, they had been up 64-37; led in Tom Thibodeau’s signature model by their beginning 5.
Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Cities, and Mikal Bridges all scored in double figures. Brunson and Anunoby completed with 23 factors every, whereas Cities and Bridges scored 21 apiece.
Fortunately, Thibodeau’s squad was allowed to relaxation for a lot of the fourth quarter, his starters often play the vast majority of the sport, however they weren’t wanted to safe this win.
Though the Knicks head into their first convention finals in 25 years, they’re a crew with championship aspirations, and the fanbase, though at the moment joyous, arguably is not going to be glad except they hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
As Bridges informed The Athleticthe gamers too, need extra.
“Josh (Hart) confirmed me a video, strolling over right here, of individuals climbing up lightposts,” Knicks ahead Mikal Bridges informed the outlet. “It’s loopy, man. Nice for them. Comfortable for them. Clearly, I’m new right here, however I understand how a lot New York loves their sports activities, particularly the Knicks. I’m so excited to be part of it. They will get pleasure from it for us proper now, however clearly, we’ve acquired far more to go. I’m pleased for them.”
Bridges additionally spoke to the Bergen Report after the win, emphasizing his perception that the job has not but been accomplished.
“There’s extra to do,” Bridges mentioned. “We’re not carried out. That’s what it’s. We got here on the market tonight to play arduous and deal with enterprise, however our season’s not over. We’ve acquired a lot extra to go and we play on Wednesday so prepare to arrange for them. Entire completely different crew and a complete new sequence.”
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