Knicks face Celtics in Eastern Conference Semifinals May 5

The New York Knicks, after bolstering their roster with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, secured a narrow 116-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the defending champion Boston Celtics. Jalen Brunson's clutch 40-point performance, including a decisive 3-pointer in the final seconds, was crucial in clinching the series for New York. This marks the first playoff meeting between the Celtics and Knicks since 2013, and the first time they face off beyond the first round since 1984. The Celtics swept the Knicks in their regular-season matchups, largely due to New York's struggles defending the three-point shot, a key factor to watch in the upcoming series. The Knicks, aiming for their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, will face a formidable Boston team that eliminated the Orlando Magic in five games. Despite recent improvements, the Knicks are seen as underdogs against a Celtics squad with greater playoff experience and success in head-to-head matchups.