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Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from May 16

Follow the NBA Playoffs with our Nightly Pulse blog featuring all the latest news, scores and highlights from around the league.

NBA.com Staff

Friday’s Playoffs Schedule🏀👇

New York Knicks 119, Boston Celtics 81 (Final; NYK wins 4-2)

🚨 Top Storyline 🚨

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 119-81 in Game 6 to earn their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000. It’s the largest playoff victory in franchise history, led by a balance attacked with six Knicks in double figures. Josh Hart (10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists) became the first Knick since Walt Frazier (1972 Finals, Game 1) to record a triple-double in the Playoffs.

The most important thing for New York is that they’ll have four full days to rest before they meet the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the ECF on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

Top Performers 🌟👏

  1. Jalen Brunson: 23 points (8-14 FG, 3-8 3PT, 4-4 FT), 6 rebounds and 6 assists in 35 minutes in win vs. Celtics (NYK wins 4-2).
  2. OG Anunoby: 23 points (7-18 FG, 4-13 3PT, 5-5 FT), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in 37 minutes.
  3. Mikal Bridges: 22 points (9-15 FG, 4-7 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in 30 minutes.
  4. Karl-Anthony Towns: 21 points (8-20 FG, 1-6 3PT, 4-4 FT), 12 rebounds, an assist and a steal in 35 minutes.
  5. Jaylen Brown: 20 points (8-20 FG, 3-9 3PT, 1-2 FT), 6 boards, 6 assists, a steal and a block in 32 minutes in loss vs. Knicks.

Knicks advance to ECF🤩🎉🙌

The Knicks get to their first Eastern Conference Finals since 2000 with a dominant 119-81 win in Game 6 tonight. It’s the largest playoff victory in franchise history!

Jalen Brunson (6 boards, 6 assists) and OG Anunoby (9 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks) led New York with 23 points apiece, and Mikal Bridges poured in 22 points with four made 3s. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as one of six Knicks in double figures, while Miles McBride popped for 10 points and some big defensive plays off the bench.

Josh Hart recorded a triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the first Knick since Walt Frazier (1972 Finals, Game 1) to do so. New York will now have four full days to rest before they meet the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the ECF on Wednesday.

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 20 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, a steal and a block, but he fouled out in the third quarter with the C’s down 40 points. He and the rest of the Celtics gave it their all, and it’s a tough way for the defending champs to go down.

Boston shot 36% from the field and 29.3% from behind the arc, and a burst from the home team in the second quarter was too much for them to come back from.

New York up 30+ 👀🗽

The Knicks have kept their foot on the gas in the third, breaking out to a 30-plus point lead for the home team. KAT leads all scorers with 21 points, and he joins Jalen Brunson (18 points) as one of five Knicks in double figures.

Boston just hasn’t gotten their 3-pointers to drop tonight, as they’re 8-for-29 so far. Jaylen Brown has 20 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, a steal and a block, but he just fouled out with the C’s down by more than 30. Al Horford has chipped in 10 points with a couple made 3s, but it’s been all Knicks in MSG, as New York holds an 89-51 lead with less than 2 minutes to go in the third.

All Knicks in Game 6💪🔥

New York has MSG absolutely ROCKIN’ right now. Karl-Anthony Towns leads four Knicks in double figures with 16 points and 6 boards, with Mikal Bridges (12 points, 4 boards), Jalen Brunson (11 points, 5 dimes) and Miles McBride (10 points) right behind him. Josh Hart has added 5 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists with several standout plays tonight.

The Knicks outscored the Celtics 38-17 in the second frame to take a 64-37 lead at halftime, their largest lead of the night. They shot 47.1% overall while holding Boston to 33.3% from the floor and 21.1% from deep (4-for-19).

Jaylen Brown leads his squad with a game-high 18 points on 7-for-13 shooting and three made 3s, but the next highest scorer behind him is Luke Kornet (5 points). Boston will come out with urgency with their season on the line, so don’t miss the second half on ESPN.

Locked down by Mitch😤

Mitchell Robinson has an outstanding closeout to take all of Jaylen Brown’s space away, putting the clamps down to force a turnover.

The Knicks have jumped out to a 14-point lead and have a 6-3 advantage in bench points, and they’re up 38-24 near the midway point of the second quarter.

Knicks up after 1Q🔥🗽

New York rattled off a 10-4 run over the final few minutes of the first quarter to give them a 26-20 lead over Boston in Game 6. Mikal Bridges (12 points on 5-7 FG, 2-3 3PT) and Karl-Anthony Towns (11 points, 4 rebounds) lead the Knicks, while Josh Hart has added 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 10 minutes.

Jaylen Brown was red-hot with a game-high 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting and two made 3s. No other Celtic has more than 3 points, and the Knicks have taken a 31-20 lead as we get underway in the second quarter.

Tune in on ESPN for this crucial game for both squads.

Brunson buckets early🤩

Jalen Brunson loses Jaylen Brown before getting to his spot and cashing the jumper. He’s got 2 points and 2 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges leads New York with 7 points on 3-for-4 shooting.

Jaylen Brown leads the Celtics with 7 points and one made 3, but the Knicks have a 13-9 lead with a little under 5 minutes to go in the opening quarter.

Starters for New York🗽

The Knicks will run it back with the starting unit that’s gotten them to a 3-2 series over the Celtics. Jalen Brunson (22 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (19 points) and Josh Hart (24 points) all had solid outings in Game 5, but they’ll need a little more from Mikal Bridges (9 points) and OG Anunoby (6 points) if they want to knock off the defending champs.

Starters for Boston🍀

Luke Kornet will get the starting nod for the Celtics after his 10-point, 9-rebound and 7-block performance in Game 5’s critical win. Kristaps Porziņģis will slide to the bench after not playing in the second half on Wednesday.

Game 6 between the Celtics and Knicks is going live shortly on ESPN!

Top Storylines Tonight ✍️🚨

  • The Celtics look to keep their season and back-to-back championship dreams alive tonight in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden. Boston is 2-0 in the postseason without Jayson Tatum, and improving that mark to 3-0 will give basketball fans two of the best words in all of sports – Game 7. Derrick White (34 points, 7 3PM), Jaylen Brown (26 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists) and the rest of the C’s will put it all on the line in hopes of knotting up the series at 3 games apiece with home court advantage.
  • New York faltered a bit in the second half of Game 5, getting outscored 68-43 after the score was tied at 59 at halftime. Jalen Brunson (22 points) has to stay out of foul trouble to help keep the offense in rhythm, as the Knicks shot just 35.8% from the field in the 127-102 loss on Wednesday. A loss at home tonight would give all the momentum to the Celtics in a do-or-die Game 7 at TD Garden on Monday.

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