📍 May 14, 2025 | TD Garden, Boston, MA
The Boston Celtics’ playoff run is crumbling fast—and not quietly. With Jayson Tatum already sidelined for the season after a brutal Achilles tear in Game 4, Jaylen Brown was the last star standing. That is, until he fouled out late in the third quarter of a do-or-die Game 6 against the red-hot New York Knicks.
Brown’s disqualification—his sixth foul—came with 1:49 left in the third quarter as the Celtics trailed by a staggering 41 points, down 92-51. His exit all but sealed the Celtics’ fate.
“It felt like a gut punch,” a Celtics assistant coach was overheard saying courtside. “We were already bleeding. That whistle ended it.”
💥 Game 6: Score Snapshot at Key Moments
| Quarter | Knicks Score | Celtics Score | Lead Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 27 | 19 | Knicks +8 |
| Q2 | 56 | 36 | Knicks +20 |
| Q3* | 92 | 51 | Knicks +41 |
*Jaylen Brown fouled out with 1:49 remaining in Q3.
🩻 Injury Avalanche Dooms Boston
Boston’s problems started in Game 4, when Jayson Tatum went down clutching his right foot, later confirmed to be a torn Achilles. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the postseason and likely a large chunk of the 2025–26 campaign.
The Celtics’ depth was already thin, and with Kristaps Porziņģis still rehabbing a calf strain, the team had little margin for error. That margin just vanished.
🔥 Jaylen Brown's Final Game 6 Stat Line
| Minutes | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31:47 | 20 | 8-20 | 3-9 | 1-2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | -30 |
Despite leading the team in scoring, Brown’s impact was largely negative, with a plus-minus of -30, and seven costly turnovers.
🗽 Knicks on the Verge of History
With this lopsided win, New York is poised to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000—a time when current Knicks backup guard Miles McBride wasn’t even born. The Knicks now lead the series 4-2, eliminating the defending champions.
Should the Pacers hold off the Bucks in their series, fans could see a nostalgic East Finals rematch: Knicks vs Pacers, just like the turn-of-the-century classic.
🧊 Historical Cold Streak for Defending Champs
Boston’s collapse continues a pattern:
No reigning NBA champion has advanced past the second round since 2019.
The Celtics now join the Bucks (2022), Warriors (2023), and Nuggets (2024) on the list of short-lived title defenses.
🏆 Knicks vs Celtics: Series Recap
| Game | Result | Series Standing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celtics Win (112-103) | BOS 1-0 |
| 2 | Knicks Win (119-110) | Tied 1-1 |
| 3 | Knicks Win (114-99) | NYK 2-1 |
| 4 | Knicks Win (105-101)* | NYK 3-1 |
| 5 | Celtics Win (117-102) | NYK 3-2 |
| 6 | Knicks Win (TBD, but blowout) | NYK wins 4-2 |
*Game 4 featured Jayson Tatum’s season-ending Achilles injury.
📢 What’s Next for Boston?
The offseason looms large with hard questions:
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Will Brown remain the franchise centerpiece?
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Can Tatum return to form post-Achilles?
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Does Joe Mazzulla stay at the helm?
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Will Boston look to rebuild or retool?
Meanwhile, the Knicks are roaring into the next round with confidence, balance, and momentum—and Madison Square Garden is ready to erupt.