Knicks are heading to Eastern Conference Finals, but they're far from satisfied
NEW YORK – If you were in the Knicks' locker room after their 119-81 demolition of the Boston Celtics Friday night, you wouldn't have known if they had just moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals or if this was after a victory in the middle of January.
There was no shouting or celebrating. No music or dancing. It was quiet, almost subdued.
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The Knicks had just completely dominated the Celtics on the Madison Square Garden court, turning in a complete effort from start to finish, controlling the game on both ends of the floor.
They shot well, they defended at a high level. It was the type of postseason win the Knicks have been searching for, just the win they needed.
And yet there's so much more for this team to accomplish.
'We've got eight wins,' coach Tom Thibodeau said. 'We need 16.'
The Knicks' chance to get their ninth win will come Wednesday night at home against the Pacers, who upset the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in their series.
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It'll be the second-straight season the Knicks and Pacers will meet in the playoffs – Indiana won their second-round series last season, though that Knicks team was badly beat up and beleaguered.
This Knicks team?
This Knicks team is already memorable, but they now have a chance to be special.
New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) and guard Jrue Holiday (4) during the first quarter of game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
And it's why there was such little celebration Friday night.
'There's more to do,' said Mikal Bridges, who had 22 points in Game 6. 'We're not done. That's what it is. We came out there tonight to play hard and handle business, but our season's not over. We've got so much more to go and we play on Wednesday so get ready to prepare for them. Whole different team and a whole new series.'
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The Pacers are good. They went 50-32 during the regular season. They boast one of the NBA's top players in Tyrese Haliburton. They're deep, they play at a fast pace, they wear teams down.
But if the Knicks can even come close to replicating the way they played in Game 6 and do that consistently, they're going to be a tough team to beat.
They flipped the script after a dreadful Game 5. Just like they needed to.
'I feel like we just watched the film (of Game 5) and we kind of discussed our communication and effort and our sense of urgency to start the game,' Josh Hart said. 'It's something we knew we had to fix. We had to get stops and we had to communicate better in transition and get out there and play fast and have fun. I think that's the biggest thing. We focused on communication and defensive transition.'
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Hart in so many ways sets the tone for this team – he had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his latest triple double. His left eye is still swollen and bruised from the elbow he took in Game 5 – an injury that sent blood pouring across his face.
But then there's Karl-Anthony Towns (21 points, 12 rebounds) and OG Anunoby (23 points, nine rebounds). The Knicks need them to play at a high level – which they did in Game 6, unlike Game 5.
Bridges has come up big in the playoffs, and Mitchell Robinson's defense has at times been game-changing.
But of course, Jalen Brunson is this team's motor. He had 23 points, six rebounds and six assists Friday night.
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The Knicks played a full 48 minutes Friday night. They played the way they needed to in order to avoid a potentially devastating Game 7.
They believe they have plenty more left. They're far from content with just making it to the conference finals.
'As long as we believe in each other, we can do something special,' Towns said. 'And as long as the belief in that locker room is that, we don't care what anyone outside that locker room says.'
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Knicks headed to conference finals, but far from satisfied
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