Awful shooting by the Celtics, combined with little to no energy from the team across the board, up against a ramped up Knicks squad at Madison Square Garden, and New York put them in a stranglehold. Boston shot 36% from the field and 29% from 3-point range, putting a nail in their own coffin as the Knicks advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York saved its best performance for last, grabbing its first beatdown victory of the playoffs. The Knicks led the Celtics by 45 points at the end of the third quarter. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla put in his end-of-bench players before the fourth quarter even started.

The New York Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years and ended the one-year NBA title reign of the Boston Celtics with astonishing ease, rolling to a 119-81 victory

Head coach Joe Mazzulla said Wednesday afternoon that Tatum, who is out for the foreseeable future after rupturing his right Achilles at the end of Game 4, sent a message to players and Celtics staffers with the team down 3-1 to the Knicks. When pressed on what Tatum actually said, Mazzulla seemingly bristled.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, left, speaks with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) AP

Before they can think of a rematch vs. Indy in the 2024 East Finals, they will need to win Game 6 on the road -- and then Game 7 at home.