The New York Knicks routed the Boston Celtics, 119-81, Friday to close out the second-round series and secure an appearance in the Eastern Conference finals—the franchise's first in 25 years. The Indiana Pacers are waiting in the next round, ironically the same team the Knicks played in their last Eastern Conference finals appearance back in 2000.
New York had a balanced scoring attack Friday with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns all putting up over 20 points each. Although Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau kept his starters in late in the blowout, the celebration started early in New York.
The stars were out at Madison Square Garden with Lenny Kravitz, Timothée Chalamet, Bad Bunny, Ben Stiller and plenty of other celebrities and Knicks legends taking in the scene:
MOOD pic.twitter.com/ZH1AfZf2mK
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 17, 2025
It was a special night for New York. And Knicks fans and the entire basketball world had to take a moment to recognize a franchise feat we haven't seen in a quarter-century:
It's official. The New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) May 17, 2025
The last time the Knicks made the Eastern Conference Finals, Jalen Brunson’s dad was on the team. pic.twitter.com/NMsg36wKcA
— ENJ🏀Y (@EnjoyBBall) May 17, 2025
— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 17, 2025
I love NY, I love the Knicks, and I love this for the city. The energy just feels different here. This is a basketball city, and this team is creating a whole new community of fans for generations to come. Corny but true!!! Go New York go New York go
— Emma Vigeland (@EmmaVigeland) May 17, 2025
The Knicks just eliminated the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/LnKCrQlYGy
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 17, 2025
You have never seen a social media post about the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals before tonight
— Law Murray 🤔 (@LawMurrayTheNU) May 17, 2025
If you're not a Knicks fan, you just don't get it man.
— EverythingKnicks (@EverythinKnicks) May 17, 2025
We all go through so much in our personal lives. The Knicks playing like this gives us a sense of peace & happiness, an escape from everything.
This victory, getting to the ECF means so much to us all as a whole 🥲 pic.twitter.com/ZQEjuhCrst
CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD!
— ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) May 17, 2025
KNICKS FANS ARE PARTYING ON SEVENTH AVENUE LIKE IT’S 1999! pic.twitter.com/yuBMobFvJj
"If you're a Knick fan, you've waited a long time for a night like this...This is a special night for a loyal fanbase."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 17, 2025
Mike Breen reacts to the Knicks advancing to their first Eastern Conference Final in 25 years following a blowout win over the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/MwySTzNZgA
Game 1 between the Knicks and Pacers tips off Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.
More NBA Playoffs on Sports Illustrated
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Knicks Fans Celebrated Franchise's First Conference Finals Appearance Since 2000.
