Derrick White and Jaylen Brown are not ready to go home just yet.
With their backs against the wall, the defending champions would not yield easily even without superstar Jayson Tatum.
White and Brown combined for 60 points as the Boston Celtics lived to fight another day, claiming a 127-102 domination of the New York Knicks in Game 5 to cut their East semis deficit to 3-2 on Thursday (PH time), May 15.
CELTICS SHOW OUT AT HOME TO FORCE A GAME 6 🙌??
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
After a tight first half, Boston dominated the third quarter battle and outscored New York, 32-17. White fired 13 points in that frame alone and ended up with a team-high 34 points spiked on seven threes.
Derrick White's 7th triple gives Boston their largest lead of the game!
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
Up 7 in the must-win Game 5 on TNT ??
Brown, for his part, flirted with a triple with 26 markers, a playoff and career-high 12 assists, and eight rebounds as the Celtic chalked up just their first home victory of the series.
EVERYTHING CLICKING FOR BOSTON??
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
Leading on TNT with their sights sets on a Game 6 👀
Luke Kornet, who had five blocks throughout the playoffs, registered a new career-high with seven swats on top of 10 points and nine boards while reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard added 17 points built on five threes.
LUKE KORNET'S SEVENTH REJECTION OF THE GAME 😱 pic.twitter.com/9ugeEj4CMK
— NBA (@NBA) May 15, 2025
A day after Tatum underwent surgery due to a season-ending ruptured Achilles injury he sustained in the last outing, the Celtics showed up in a must-win game and hit 22 threes, led by as many as 26 points, and handed the Knicks their first road loss of the playoffs.
[ALSO READ: Celtics star Jayson Tatum undergoes surgery after suffering season-ending Achilles injury]
The Celtics now head to New York for Game 6 on Saturday (PH time), May 15.
Meanwhile, Josh Hart netted 24 markers to pace the Knicks in a losing effort.
Jalen Brunson had 22 points and six dimes before fouling out midway through the fourth. He picked five of his six fouls alone in the third frame where the Celtics broke the game wide open.
Brunson 👋😂
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 15, 2025
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]
