Jalen Brunson was just three years old when his father and current Knicks Assistant coach Rick played for New York in the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers.
25 years and a number of playoff disappointments later, he was at the forefront of a long-awaited moment for a franchise now eight wins away from its first NBA title since 1973.
Brunson led four-20-point Knicks scorers with 23 markers in a series-clinching 119-81 domination of the erstwhile champion Boston Celtics in Game 6, Saturday (PH time), May 17.
[ALSO READ: Knicks oust champion Celtics in Game 6 blowout, make first East Finals trip since 2000]
While it ended a 25-year East Final drought for New York, the 2025 Clutch Player of the Year insisted the job’s not finished.
KNICKS SEND CELTICS HOME IN 6 🗽
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2025
FIRST ECF IN NEW YORK SINCE 2000 🔥
“I still feel like we have a long way to go,” Brunson told reporters in the post game press conference.
Mikal Bridges, who added 22 points and hit four threes, couldn’t agree more.
“More to go, we [are] not done,” Bridges added.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who arrived in New York in last year’s offseason due to a trade with Julius Randle, finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the playoffs.
Josh Hart stuffed the stat sheet with 10 markers, 11 boards, and 11 assists, becoming the first Knicks player to record a playoff triple-double since Walt Frazier in 1972.
Josh Hart is the first Knicks player to record a triple-double in the playoffs since Walt Frazier in 1972 🗽
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 17, 2025
New York is going to the Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years!
“That’s who he is. He impacts the game in a lot of different ways… when you play that kind of effort, it’s inspiring for the team,” New York head coach Tom Thibodeau spoke of his do-it-all player’s performance in Game 6.
"Josh, what he is is a basketball player... When you play with that kind of effort, it's inspiring to the team."
— NBA (@NBA) May 17, 2025
Tom Thibodeau gives Josh Hart his flowers (10p, 11r, 11a) after his first career postseason triple-double in the Game 6 win 💯
After getting dominated by Boston in Game 5, New York wouldn’t let another close-out opportunity slip away, especially playing at home.
The Knicks broke the game wide open in the second frame where they outscored the Celtics, 38-17. New York would lead by as many as 41 points en route to their biggest playoff win in franchise history.
“You're gonna win games in different ways. Every game is different. There’s no carry over from one game to the next other than you have to be ready to win that particular game and understand what you need to do to win,” Thibodeau bared.
He continued: “I think when you understand that part of it and the importance of preparation needed, that gives yourselves the best chance to win.”
The Knicks did, and what stands between them and a first NBA Finals appearance is a familiar foe in the form of the Indiana Pacers.
It will feature a rematch of last year’s semifinal series where the Pacers won Game 7 in New York to end the Knicks season. Overall, it’ll also be the ninth time that both teams will match-up in the postseason.
“It’s a great win. We advance. You look at that, but you also understand you have to get ready for the next series. The Pacers are a terrific team and we’re going to have to be ready,” Thibodeau said.
New York won twice of their three regular season meetings against Indiana, but the Pacers won 26 of their 48 all-time playoff duels over the Knicks.
“In the playoffs, you have to earn your wins. They’re not going to be given to you because you’re at home or on the road. You have to earn it with your play," Thibodeau noted.
