3 Adjustments Knicks Can Make To Beat Celtics In Game 6

As the Knicks learned on Wednesday night, regardless of who’s on the floor, wins don’t come easy in the playoffs. The Knicks lost, 127-102, to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. New York has a 3-2 series lead, but the pressure has ratcheted up.

Even without star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics took care of the Knicks with relative ease -- still, New York needs just one more win to close out the series. They’ll have two chances to get the job done, starting with Friday night at home.

Let’s take a look at adjustments the Knicks can make for Game 6...

Guarding the three-point line

Boston’s offense is built around launching three-pointers and getting to the basket. The Celtics lead all teams in the second round in three-point attempts per 100 possessions, per NBA Stats. The Knicks gave up 49 three-point attempts to the Celtics in Game 5, which was a recipe for disaster. Boston converted on 22 treys -- some of the shots came in transition as New York struggled to match-up when getting back on defense.

Even more important, many of the three-point looks were wide open. Boston’s two most prolific outside shooters -- Derrick White and Payton Pritchard -- were both given opportunities to launch clean three-pointers. The duo shot a combined 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from three.

Boston moved the ball in Game 5, recording a series-high 27 assists. The Knicks seemed caught off guard by the extra ball movement. Without Tatum, the Celtics can’t rely on as much isolation. So they played faster, slipped screens, and were more decisive about getting to the rim. Jaylen Brown pushed the pace and was effective getting into the paint as he finished with 27 points and 12 assists.

Better performance from Karl-Anthony Towns

The 19 points and eight rebounds from Towns on Wednesday night don’t tell the full story. The All-Star center had an uneven performance. Towns was in foul trouble in the first half. On defense, he was a part of several breakdowns that ended in wide open three-pointers from the Celtics.

May 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. / Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Towns needs to be more crisp in his rotations as well as stepping up on screens. Though there have been times he’s been able to hold up guarding Brown or Tatum in isolations, Towns has been a culprit in miscommunications that have led to easy baskets for Boston regularly throughout the series.

The Knicks also need more from the big man on offense. He attempted just 11 shots in Game 5. With guard Jrue Holiday on him at times, Towns should look to be even more aggressive scoring in the paint. If the Celtics look to bring help, Towns can find the open man.

Looking for easy points

Game 5 was a grind it out game. The Knicks had just four fast break points, with their offense stuck in the half court. The Knicks have to find a way to get easier shots.

It’s not a surprise that New York’s best offensive game was Game 4.

The Knicks recorded a series-high 25 assists. On Wednesday, New York had just 17 assists. The offense bogged down at times as Boston loaded up in the paint and dared Josh Hart to shoot.

Hart had one of his best shooting nights, going 5-for-9 on trifectas, but the Celtics will take that rather than OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges going off. New York’s wing duo had a combined 15 points on 5-for-26 shooting from the field.

If the Knicks are going to win, they need Anunoby and Bridges to have better offensive nights. A way to do that will be finding easier looks through passes and transition opportunities.