New York Knicks (3-1) at Boston Celtics (1-3) Round 2 Game 5 5/14/25

The Celtics look to avoid elimination as they take on the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

After losing Game 4 to the New York Knicks, the Celtics face elimination in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They gave themselves life in the series and brought themselves to within 1 game of the Knicks by winning Game 3, but then they blew a 14 point lead and lost Game 4. They also lost Jayson Tatum for the remainder of the playoffs.

The Celtics held a 20 point lead in both Games 1 and 2 at home. In both games they lost that 20 point lead and allowed the Knicks to steal the games. They lost 108-105 in overtime in Game 1 and 91-90 in the final seconds of Game 2. In Game 3, they opened up a 31 point lead at one point and held on for a 115-93 win.

After struggling to hit open shots and layups in Games 1 and 2, The Celtics’ shots finally started to fall in Game 3 and they also were able to defend well, holding the Knicks to 40% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc. The Celtics shot well for the most part in Game 4, but they struggled to stop the Knicks who shot 54.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc.

The Knicks were up 9 points with less than 3 minutes to go in the game when Jayson Tatum went down with a non-contact injury. He was helped off the court in a lot of pain. He later was seen in a wheelchair and it was announced that he would have an MRI on Tuesday. Instead of the results of an MRI, Celtics fans got the announcement that Tatum had undergone successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles.

Only 5 teams have won a series after losing the first 2 games at home. This includes the 2017 Celtics, who won the series after going down 0-2 at home to the Chicago Bulls. Of 293 teams that have been down 1-3 in a series, only 13 have gone on to win the series. The 1968 Celtics came back from 1-3 against the 76ers and the 1981 Celtics also came back from down 1-3 to win the series, also against the 76ers. Both of those teams won the championship that year.

The Celtics entered the series with a clean injury list but just 4 minutes into Game 1, Sam Hauser left the game with a sprained ankle and missed Games 2, 3 and 4. He is listed as probable for this game. Kristaps Porzingis played just 13 minutes in that first game due to an illness. After missing Game 2, he came off the bench to play limited minutes n Games 3 and 4.

Jayson Tatum is now out for this game as well as any other games in these playoffs after successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles. I’m not sure who will start in his place in this game. In Game 2 against Orlando that he missed, Horford started in his place with Porzingis at center. Since Porzingis has been limited, I’m guessing that Luke Kornet may get the start at center with Horford once again starting at power forward. The Knicks once again have no injuries to report.

Coach Mazzulla played just 8 players in Game 2. In Game 3, he also went with 8 players until he emptied the bench with just over 2 minutes to go in the game. He once again played just 8 players in Game 4. Sam Hauser is probable for this game and so he will likely play, but after missing 3 games with a sprained ankle, I don’t know as he would start.

Probable Celtics Starters

PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Al Horford
C: Luke Kornet

Celtics Reserves
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman
Jordan Walsh
Torrey Craig
Xavier Tillman, Sr
JD Davison
Kristaps Porzingis
Sam Hauser

2 Way Players
Drew Peterson
Miles Norris

Injuries/Out
Sam Hauser (ankle) probable
Jayson Tatum (Achilles) out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Probable Knicks Starters

PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Mikal Bridges
SF: Josh Hart
PF: OG Anunoby
C: Karl-Anthony Towns

Knicks Reserves
Delon Wright
Cameron Payne
Miles McBride
Pacome Dadiet
Precious Azhiuwa
Tyler Kolek
PJ Tucker
Mitchell Robinson
Landry Shamet
Ariel Hukporti

2 Way Players
MarJon Beauchamp
Kevin McCullar, Jr
Anton Watson

Injuries/Out
None Listed

Head Coach
Tom Thibodeau

Key Matchups

Jrue Holiday vs Jalen Brunson
In Game 1, Brunson finished with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals while shooting 39.1% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc. In Game 2, Brunson finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists while shooting 31.6% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc. In Game 3, he finished with 27 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, he finished with 39 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists while shooting 56% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. Slowing him down, especially in the 4th quarter, will be very important.

Jaylen Brown vs OG Anunoby
In the series vs the Celtics, he is averaging 9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal per game while shooting just 29.6% from the field and 13.3% from beyond the arc. In Game 4, he finished with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists while shooting 57% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. He is one of the Knicks best defenders and will be focused on keeping Brown from having a big game.

Honorable Mention
Luke Kornet vs Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns gives the Knicks a strong presence in the paint along with the ability to spread the floor. In Game 1, Towns struggled with foul trouble but still finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 steal. He shot 46.2% from the field but was just 0-1 on threes. In Game 2, he finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block while shooting 56.3% from the field and 0-1 on threes. In Game 3, he finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 27.8% from the field and 20% on threes. In Game 4, he finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block while shooting 73.3% from the field and hitting his only 3.

Keys to the Game
Defense – Defense is the key to winning every game. Defense is important in the regular season, but even more so in the playoffs. In the playoffs so far, Boston has a defensive rating of 105.8 (2nd) while New York has a defensive rating of 110.3 (5th). Defense was a big reason for the Celtics win in Game 3. They held the Knicks to 20% from beyond the arc and just 40% from the field. Lack of defense was one of the main reasons for their loss in Game 4. They allowed the Knicks to shoot 54.3% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to play much better on the defensive end in this game.

Rebound – The Celtics can’t score if they don’t have the ball, and the best way to get the ball is to grab rebounds. The Celtics need to rebound as a team with every Celtic battling on the boards. The Celtics are 44-10 when tied or out-rebounding their opponents. The Celtics out-rebounded the Knicks 59-49 in Game 1 and 51-46 in Game 2 and that may be the only reason that they were so close even though they shot so poorly. In Game 3, the Knicks out-rebounded the Celtics 43-42. In Game 4, the Knicks once again out-rebounded the Celtics 43-31. Rebounding takes effort and energy and the Celtics have to put out extra effort on the boards in this one in order to win the game.

Focus and Mental Toughness – The Celtics missed 45 of 60 threes in Game 1 and they missed 30 of 40 in Game 2. In Game 3, they made 20 of 40. Much of their shooting has to be focus and a mental lapse. They need to take their time and focus on making their shots. They have also missed 25 of 45 layups and that has to be focus as well. They have played well enough to build 20 point leads in the first 2 games and then have lost focus and effort and have allowed the Knicks to come back and win. the Celtics need to come out focused and keep that focus throughout the game.

Everyone Step Up – With Jayson Tatum out, every player that gets on the court will need to step up their game, whether they start or come off the bench. When Tatum missed Game 2 of the first round, Brown finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists and the Celtics will need another big game out of him in this one. Payton Pritchard will need more minutes and will need to step up again in this game.. After scoring 23 points in 35 minutes in Game 3, he played just 20 minutes in Game 4. Sam Hauser will need to hit his 3’s and Kristaps Porzingis will need to give it his all regardless of the lingering illness that has limited him in this series. Every player has to step up on both ends of the court.

X-Factors
Home Game – The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them. The Knicks will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge. Teams play all season for home court and the Celtics need to take advantage of playing on their home court and not allow the Knicks a third win on their home court.

Injuries – The Celtics have been hard hit by injuries. Jaylen Brown has been playing with various injuries, Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with a respiratory illness. Jrue Holiday has been playing with a mallet finger. Sam Hauser has missed 3 games with a sprained ankle but is probable for this game. And now, the Celtics will be playing without their best player. They can win this, but they are all going to have to play hard and step up their games. Win this one for Jayson!!!!

Officiating – Officiating always has the potential to be an x-factor. Each officiating crew calls the game differently. Some refs call it tight and constantly call fouls while others let them play with few fouls called. Some refs just make terrible head-scratching calls. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus.

Official Report
Crew Chief – Tony Brothers – Brothers has been calling games for 29 years and is one of the most controversial refs in the league. Fans from every team groan when they see his name on the game assignments. In an anonymous player survey last season, 28.9% of the players felt that Brothers is one of the best refs. 8.5% of the players named him as one of the worst. His home win/loss record is 36-28. He calls 50.5% of fouls against the home team. The Celtics are 6-2 this year and 11-3 over the past 2 years with Brothers as an official. The Knicks are 4-1 this season and 7-2 over the past 2 seasons. Brothers called Game 5 of the Orlando series.

Referee – Josh Tiven – Tiven has a home win/loss record of 40-31 this season. He calls 50.3% of fouls on the home team. The Celtics are 4-1 this season and 11-3 over the past 2 seasons with Tiven as a referee. The Knicks are 3-3 this season and 8-5 over the past 2 seasons with Tiven on the court.

Umpire – Brian Forte – Forte has a home win/loss record of 46-24. He calls 48.8% for fouls on the home team. The Celtics are 5-1 this season and 10-2 over the past 2 years with Forte calling the games. The Knicks are 1-2 this season and 6-4 over the past 2 seasons with Forte.

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