The boston celtics vs knicks match player stats from the May 12, 2025, Eastern Conference Semifinals reveal how the New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 121-113 at Madison Square Garden. Jayson Tatum delivered an outstanding 42-point performance, but Jalen Brunson answered with 39 points and 12 assists to lead New York to a crucial victory. The Knicks also held clear advantages in field goals, total rebounds, and assists, turning their balanced offensive production into an eight-point win and a 3-1 series lead.

This Game 4 matchup offered much more than a high-scoring contest between two Eastern Conference rivals. It showed how efficient shooting, offensive rebounding, ball movement, and late-game execution can influence a playoff series. Boston entered the game with a 61-21 regular-season record, while New York had finished 51-31. Despite Boston’s stronger regular-season record, the Knicks found ways to control key areas of the contest and put the defending champions under significant pressure.

For readers researching individual performances, team comparisons, and playoff implications, this breakdown examines the available box score data, leading scorers, starting lineups, bench contributions, quarter-by-quarter results, and the statistical differences that shaped the outcome.

Boston Celtics vs Knicks Match Player Stats: Game 4 Overview

The fourth game of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals took place at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Knicks entered the contest with a 2-1 series advantage after Boston had won Game 3 by a comfortable margin. New York responded in Game 4 by scoring 37 points in the third quarter and 33 in the fourth, overcoming Boston’s strong opening period.

New York Knicks

Home team

FINAL SCORE

121-113

8-point margin

Boston Celtics

Away team

Date

May 12, 2025

Venue

Madison Square Garden

Playoff round

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Series after Game 4

Knicks lead 3-1

The supplied box score identifies May 12 in its page title, while some game information and series listings use May 13. The game is therefore identified here as the May 12, 2025, contest, consistent with the supplied page title.

Quick match summary

Category	Boston Celtics	New York Knicks
Final score	113	121
Field goals	38/79	50/92
Field-goal percentage	48%	54%
Three-pointers	18/48	12/34
Three-point percentage	38%	35%
Free throws	19/26	9/12
Free-throw percentage	73%	75%
Total rebounds	31	43
Assists	15	25
Turnovers	12	12
Steals	8	5
Blocks	2	2
Offensive rebounds	7	13
Defensive rebounds	24	30

Source: supplied ESPN NBA box score data. Percentages are reported as provided and rounded to whole numbers.

The central statistical story is straightforward: Boston made more three-pointers, but New York made 12 more field goals overall. The Knicks also collected 12 additional rebounds and recorded 10 more assists. Those advantages helped offset Boston’s greater three-point production and gave New York more ways to generate points.

Official reference: ESPN Game 4 box score.

Quarter-by-Quarter Score Breakdown

The scoring pattern explains how New York recovered from Boston’s early advantage. The Celtics opened strongly, but the Knicks gained momentum after halftime and finished the game with greater scoring output in each of the final two quarters.

Quarter	Boston Celtics	New York Knicks	Quarter winner
First quarter	39	28	Celtics
Second quarter	23	23	Tie
Third quarter	23	37	Knicks
Fourth quarter	28	33	Knicks
Final	113	121	Knicks

First quarter: Boston establishes an early lead

Boston scored 39 points in the opening quarter, compared with New York’s 28. The Celtics built an 11-point advantage by producing an effective early scoring run and taking advantage of their perimeter shooting.

The opening period demonstrated Boston’s ability to generate offense quickly. The team ultimately finished with 18 three-pointers, and its 48 attempts from beyond the arc reflected a major part of its offensive approach.

However, a productive opening quarter does not guarantee control for the remaining three periods. New York still had enough time to adjust its defensive approach, improve its shot selection, and create more opportunities around the basket.

Second quarter: The teams trade points

Both teams scored 23 points in the second quarter. Boston maintained its lead, but the Knicks prevented the deficit from growing.

This period mattered because New York remained within reach despite Boston’s excellent start. A balanced quarter can stabilize a game and give a trailing team an opportunity to make a decisive push after halftime.

Third quarter: New York changes the momentum

The Knicks scored 37 points in the third quarter, while Boston managed only 23. New York therefore won the period by 14 points, a swing large enough to erase the Celtics’ early advantage and put the home team in control.

The broader box score supports the importance of New York’s offensive execution. The Knicks finished with 50 made field goals and 25 assists, suggesting that their scoring was supported by both successful individual plays and productive team offense.

Boston’s offense, meanwhile, did not maintain its first-quarter pace. Although the Celtics eventually made 18 three-pointers, their lower total number of field goals limited their ability to match New York’s overall production.

Fourth quarter: The Knicks protect their advantage

New York added 33 points in the final quarter, compared with Boston’s 28. The Knicks did not simply rely on their third-quarter run; they continued scoring at a rate sufficient to preserve the lead.

Jalen Brunson’s 39 points and 12 assists were central to the team’s offensive output. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each scored 23 points, giving New York additional scoring options when Boston needed to focus on its primary ball handler.

The result was an eight-point victory that pushed the Knicks to the brink of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Boston Celtics Player Stats and Performance Analysis

Boston’s individual numbers reveal a remarkable scoring effort from Jayson Tatum, useful perimeter production from Derrick White, and another solid contribution from Jaylen Brown. The challenge was that the Celtics did not receive enough collective production to match New York’s efficiency across the full game.

Jayson Tatum: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics forward

42

Points

8

Rebounds

4

Assists

4

Steals

Tatum was Boston’s leading scorer with 42 points. He also collected eight rebounds, distributed four assists, recorded four steals, and blocked two shots, according to the supplied player data.

His performance demonstrates why individual scoring totals must be considered alongside the final result. Tatum scored almost 37% of Boston’s 113 points, providing a major share of the team’s offense. Yet the Celtics still lost because their collective production fell short of New York’s.

His four steals and two blocks also show that his contribution extended beyond scoring. These defensive statistics indicate activity in multiple areas, although they do not independently establish how effective he was on every defensive possession.

The most important takeaway is that Tatum’s scoring was not the problem in isolation. Boston needed more support from the team as a whole, particularly in rebounding and the creation of high-quality scoring opportunities.

Derrick White: 23 points and six three-pointers

Derrick White

Boston Celtics guard

23 points

6-for-11 from three-point range

White delivered the Celtics’ second-highest scoring total, finishing with 23 points and making six of his 11 three-point attempts.

His three-point shooting was an important part of Boston’s offensive performance. White converted approximately 54.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc, an impressive rate over 11 shots.

Boston made 18 three-pointers as a team, and White accounted for six of them. That means he supplied one-third of the Celtics’ made threes, providing valuable perimeter scoring alongside Tatum’s production.

However, New York’s greater success inside the overall field-goal category proved more influential. The Knicks made 50 field goals, while Boston made 38. Even with White’s strong shooting, the Celtics could not overcome that 12-shot difference in made baskets.

Jaylen Brown: 20 points and 7 rebounds

Jaylen Brown

Boston Celtics guard-forward

20 points

7 rebounds

Brown finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, giving Boston another player who reached the 20-point mark. Along with Tatum and White, he formed a productive scoring trio.

Their combined output was 85 points, accounting for approximately 75% of Boston’s final score. This concentration highlights a potential issue for the Celtics: while their leading players produced individually, the team still needed more contributions across the lineup.

The seven rebounds were also useful, but Boston’s total rebounding figure remained well below New York’s. The Celtics needed more collective success in securing missed shots, particularly when the Knicks generated extra opportunities through offensive rebounds.

Payton Pritchard: 12 points off the bench

Pritchard supplied 12 points as a reserve. His scoring gave Boston a useful contribution beyond its three leading scorers.

Bench scoring matters in playoff basketball because starters cannot be expected to carry every possession. Reserve players can preserve offensive momentum, punish defensive mismatches, and provide relief when primary scorers are resting.

Pritchard’s 12 points were a positive element of Boston’s performance. However, the supplied data does not include his complete shooting line, minutes, or plus/minus, so a more detailed efficiency assessment would require the full player box score.

Kristaps Porzingis: 7 points and 4 rebounds

Porzingis recorded seven points and four rebounds. His contribution was more limited on the scoring sheet than those of Boston’s three leading scorers.

The difference between his total and Tatum’s 42 points illustrates the uneven distribution of scoring in this particular game. Boston had strong production from its leading players, but it needed additional offense and stronger rebounding as a group to keep pace with New York.

Boston’s starting lineup

The Celtics started the following five players:

• Jayson Tatum
• Al Horford
• Jrue Holiday
• Derrick White
• Jaylen Brown

The starting lineup combined scoring, perimeter defense, ball handling, and frontcourt experience. Tatum, Brown, and White supplied the leading scoring totals reported in the supplied data.

Individual statistics for Al Horford and Jrue Holiday are not included in the provided summary. Their complete points, rebounds, assists, shooting percentages, and minutes should be checked against the official box score rather than estimated.

New York Knicks Player Stats and Performance Analysis

The Knicks had a more balanced scoring performance. Brunson led the offense, but Towns and Bridges each added 23 points, while Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson contributed in other areas.

This distribution was important because it prevented Boston from having to defend just one scoring threat. New York’s 25 assists further suggest that its scoring output benefited from collective offensive execution.

Jalen Brunson: 39 points and 12 assists

Jalen Brunson

New York Knicks guard

39

Points

12

Assists

5

Rebounds

14/25

Field goals

Brunson delivered one of the game’s most influential performances, finishing with 39 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds. He made 14 of 25 field-goal attempts, four of eight three-pointers, and seven of nine free throws.

His shooting percentages were approximately 56% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 77.8% from the free-throw line. Those figures show that Brunson combined high scoring volume with effective shooting.

His 12 assists are equally important. They indicate that Brunson was not simply finishing possessions himself. He also created scoring opportunities for teammates, helping the Knicks reach 25 assists as a team.

That combination of scoring and playmaking made his performance especially valuable. When a lead guard can generate points while creating opportunities for others, the defense must account for several possible outcomes on each possession.

Brunson’s performance also contrasted with Boston’s overall offensive distribution. Tatum scored more points individually, but Brunson paired his scoring with three times as many assists. That does not automatically make one performance better in every respect, but it highlights Brunson’s broader role in New York’s offense.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 23 points and 11 rebounds

Karl-Anthony Towns

New York Knicks center

23 points

11 rebounds

Towns recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds, producing a double-double in points and rebounds. His scoring matched Bridges for second place on the Knicks, while his rebounding helped New York establish a major advantage on the glass.

His 11 rebounds were especially relevant because the Knicks finished with 43 total rebounds, compared with Boston’s 31. Towns’ contribution supported a frontcourt effort that generated more possessions and reduced the Celtics’ opportunities to recover missed shots.

A strong rebounding performance is not only about the number recorded beside an individual player’s name. Securing defensive rebounds ends the opponent’s possession, while offensive rebounds can give a team additional chances to score. Towns’ total helped New York in both the overall battle for possession and its frontcourt presence.

Mikal Bridges: 23 points and 4 steals

Mikal Bridges

New York Knicks wing

23 points

4 steals

Bridges contributed 23 points and recorded four steals. His scoring gave New York another reliable option alongside Brunson and Towns.

The four steals also stand out in the defensive statistics. New York recorded five steals as a team in the supplied summary, meaning Bridges accounted for most of that total. Steals can create transition opportunities and disrupt an opponent’s offensive rhythm, although the box score alone does not establish the exact impact of each one.

Bridges’ combination of scoring and defensive activity helped round out a performance in which New York received important contributions from multiple players.

Josh Hart: 9 rebounds and 5 assists

Hart recorded nine rebounds and five assists. Although the supplied data does not specify his point total, his rebounding and playmaking figures show that he contributed beyond scoring.

His nine rebounds were especially useful in a game where the Knicks collected 43 boards overall. Rebounding from perimeter players can be valuable because it allows a team to finish defensive possessions without relying entirely on its centers and power forwards.

Five assists also indicate that Hart helped move the ball and create opportunities for teammates. Together, these numbers reflect the kind of supporting performance that can make a difference when a playoff game features two elite leading scorers.

Mitchell Robinson: 4 points and 8 rebounds

Robinson provided four points, eight rebounds, and two assists from the bench. His scoring was modest, but his rebounding added depth to New York’s frontcourt effort.

Eight rebounds from a reserve center can be particularly useful in a playoff contest. A bench player who secures missed shots gives starters more flexibility and can help maintain the team’s rebounding strength when the primary center rests.

Robinson’s contribution also illustrates why evaluating a bench player solely by points can produce an incomplete picture. His rebounds and assists added value even without a high scoring total.

New York’s starting lineup

The Knicks started:

• OG Anunoby
• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Josh Hart
• Mikal Bridges
• Jalen Brunson

The lineup combined Brunson’s ball handling, Towns’ interior presence, Bridges’ scoring, and Hart’s rebounding and playmaking. Anunoby provided another experienced wing option.

The available summary does not provide Anunoby’s complete individual line. Readers seeking his exact points, rebounds, assists, shooting figures, and minutes should consult the official box score rather than relying on assumptions.

Team Statistics Comparison: Why the Knicks Won

Individual scoring is only one part of basketball analysis. The larger team numbers explain why New York won even though Tatum finished with the game’s highest individual point total.

1. Field-goal efficiency favored New York

The Knicks made 50 of 92 field-goal attempts, while Boston converted 38 of 79. Their reported shooting percentages were 54% and 48%, respectively.

The difference in made shots was substantial. New York converted 12 more field goals, which equates to 24 additional points from made two-point and three-point field goals before accounting for the different values of three-pointers.

Because Boston made more three-pointers, the exact point contribution of those 12 additional field goals cannot be interpreted as 24 extra points in the final scoring comparison. Still, the Knicks’ greater volume of successful shots was a key advantage.

2. Boston won the three-point count, but not the game

Boston made 18 three-pointers on 48 attempts, while New York made 12 on 34 attempts.

The Celtics therefore made six more threes, producing 18 additional points from three-point baskets compared with the Knicks. However, Boston’s overall field-goal total remained lower.

This is a useful lesson when interpreting NBA statistics: a team can win the three-point battle and still lose if its opponent creates more successful shots elsewhere. Perimeter scoring is important, but it is not a substitute for overall shooting efficiency and possession control.

3. Rebounding gave New York more opportunities

The Knicks collected 43 rebounds, while the Celtics recorded 31. New York also won the offensive rebounding comparison, 13 to seven.

That six-rebound advantage on the offensive glass is particularly meaningful. Offensive rebounds can extend possessions, allow a team to attempt another shot, and force defenders to continue working after an initial stop.

The total rebounding gap was 12, matching the difference in made field goals. These figures should not be treated as a direct mathematical cause-and-effect relationship, but they show how New York controlled two important aspects of the game at the same time.

4. Assists revealed a difference in ball movement

New York recorded 25 assists compared with Boston’s 15. The Knicks therefore produced 10 more assists, a sizeable difference in a game decided by eight points.

Assists do not capture every form of offensive creation. A pass can create an advantage without receiving an assist, and some successful shots come from individual plays. Even so, the gap supports the conclusion that New York generated more assisted baskets.

Brunson’s 12 assists were especially important within this picture. His playmaking helped connect the Knicks’ individual scoring performances to a broader team effort.

5. Turnovers were equal

Both teams committed 12 turnovers. That means New York did not win simply by protecting the ball better according to the supplied totals.

Instead, the clearest statistical differences were shooting efficiency, rebounding, and assists. Boston’s eight steals compared with New York’s five did not translate into a lower turnover total for the Knicks, illustrating why steals and turnovers must be evaluated as separate statistics.

6. Free throws were not the decisive difference

Boston made 19 of 26 free throws, while New York converted nine of 12. The Celtics scored 10 more points at the free-throw line.

This helped Boston remain competitive despite its lower field-goal total. However, New York’s overall field-goal production and rebounding advantages were enough to offset that difference.

The comparison shows why analysts should look at the entire scoring picture instead of using one category to explain the result.

The Most Important Statistical Differences

Statistical category	Knicks’ advantage or disadvantage	Why it mattered
Total field goals	+12	More successful shots overall
Total rebounds	+12	Stronger control of missed shots
Offensive rebounds	+6	More chances to extend possessions
Assists	+10	Greater recorded passing contribution
Three-pointers made	-6	Boston had the perimeter scoring edge
Free throws made	-10	Boston scored more at the line
Turnovers	0	Both teams committed 12
Steals	-3	Boston recorded more steals

These comparisons reveal a game decided by several interacting factors rather than one isolated statistic. Boston’s perimeter shooting and free-throw production were strong enough to keep the score competitive. New York, however, had greater overall field-goal production and a substantial advantage in rebounds and assists.

Understanding the numbers correctly

A box score records what happened, but it does not explain every reason behind the result. For example, a high assist total can reflect successful passing, but it does not reveal every screen, cut, or defensive rotation that helped create an open shot.

Likewise, a rebound total does not show whether every board was contested or how much team positioning contributed. The strongest analysis uses the available statistics to identify patterns, while avoiding claims that cannot be confirmed from the data.

That distinction matters for anyone studying basketball performance, comparing players, or using historical match statistics in sports reporting.

Game 4 in the Context of the 2025 Playoff Series

The result became even more significant when viewed alongside the first three games and the remainder of the series. New York’s victory gave the Knicks a 3-1 advantage, leaving Boston with little room for error.

Results of all six games

Game	Date in supplied data	Result	Series takeaway
Game 1	May 6, 2025	Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)	New York won a close opener
Game 2	May 8, 2025	Knicks 91, Celtics 90	Knicks took a 2-0 lead
Game 3	May 11, 2025	Celtics 115, Knicks 93	Boston cut the deficit to 2-1
Game 4	May 13, 2025	Knicks 121, Celtics 113	New York moved ahead 3-1
Game 5	May 15, 2025	Celtics 127, Knicks 102	Boston stayed alive
Game 6	May 17, 2025	Knicks 119, Celtics 81	New York won the series

The supplied series list dates Game 4 as May 13, while the ESPN page title identifies the game as May 12.

Boston’s Game 3 victory demonstrated that the Celtics could respond after falling behind in the series. However, the Game 4 loss restored New York’s two-game advantage and put Boston in a difficult position.

The Celtics subsequently won Game 5, but the Knicks closed the series in Game 6 with a decisive victory. New York advanced after winning the series four games to two.

This broader context helps explain why Game 4 mattered. The Knicks did not merely secure another postseason win; they established a commanding series position against a team that had finished the regular season with one of the league’s strongest records.

What the series tells us about playoff performance

The series illustrates three useful points about postseason basketball.

First, regular-season records do not guarantee playoff success. Boston entered the series with a 61-21 record, compared with New York’s 51-31 mark. The Knicks nevertheless won the series through a combination of individual scoring, team execution, and important performances in close games.

Second, momentum can shift quickly. Boston’s 22-point victory in Game 3 showed that New York’s early series lead was not unassailable. The Knicks’ Game 4 response demonstrated their ability to recover after a heavy defeat.

Third, one player’s scoring cannot tell the entire story. Tatum’s 42 points and Brunson’s 39-point performance were exceptional, but the result depended on team-level factors as well. Rebounding, passing, shooting efficiency, and contributions from supporting players all helped shape the outcome.

These lessons are useful when comparing playoff performances across different seasons. A strong analysis should combine individual player lines with team totals and series context instead of treating the final score as a complete explanation.

How to Interpret Basketball Player Statistics

Readers looking up the boston celtics vs knicks match player stats may want to know more than who scored the most points. Understanding common basketball statistics helps put each performance into context.

Points

Points measure a player’s direct scoring output. Tatum’s 42 points led all players in this game, followed by Brunson’s 39.

Points are useful for identifying scoring leaders, but they do not reveal how many attempts a player needed to reach that total. A player who scores 25 points on efficient shooting may have a different offensive impact from one who needs many more attempts to score the same amount.

Field-goal percentage

Field-goal percentage measures successful field goals relative to total attempts.

The formula is:

\[ \text{FG\%}=\frac{\text{Made field goals}}{\text{Field-goal attempts}}\times100 \]

Brunson made 14 of 25 attempts, giving him a field-goal percentage of 56%. The Knicks finished at a reported team rate of 54%, compared with Boston’s 48%.

Field-goal percentage includes both two-point and three-point shots, so it does not account for the extra point awarded for a successful three-pointer. It is best interpreted alongside three-point shooting and other scoring statistics.

Three-point percentage

Three-point percentage measures the proportion of three-point attempts that become successful baskets.

White made six of 11 attempts, giving him a percentage of approximately 54.5%. Brunson converted four of eight, or 50%.

These figures indicate how effectively each player converted perimeter opportunities. However, a percentage should also be considered alongside the number of attempts and the quality of the shots.

Rebounds

Rebounds measure how many missed shots a player recovers. Offensive rebounds extend a team’s possession, while defensive rebounds generally help end the opponent’s possession.

Towns recorded 11 rebounds, Hart collected nine, and Robinson added eight. Their combined totals highlight New York’s strength on the boards.

Assists

Assists are credited to players whose passes directly lead to made baskets under the official scoring rules. Brunson’s 12 assists were the highest reported individual total in this game.

Assists help describe playmaking, but they do not capture every action that creates a scoring opportunity. Screens, off-ball movement, and passes that lead to later assists may still be important even when they do not appear in an individual player’s total.

Steals and blocks

Steals are credited when a defensive player legally gains possession from an opponent. Blocks are credited when a defender deflects a shot attempt.

Tatum recorded four steals and two blocks in the supplied data, while Bridges also recorded four steals. These figures show defensive activity, although full film review would be needed to assess positioning, contest quality, and the impact of each play.

Plus/minus

Plus/minus measures the difference between a team’s points scored and points allowed while a particular player is on the court.

A positive figure means the player’s team outscored its opponent during those minutes. A negative figure means it was outscored.

Plus/minus can provide useful context, but it is influenced by teammates, opponents, lineup combinations, and game conditions. It should not be treated as a stand-alone measure of individual ability.

The supplied summary explains the meaning of plus/minus but does not provide individual figures for this game. Exact player values should therefore be checked in the complete box score.

Data Accuracy and Statistical Limitations

A reliable game analysis must separate confirmed figures from interpretations and missing information.

The supplied ESPN-based data provides the final score, team statistics, selected individual performances, starting lineups, and series results. Those figures support the main conclusions in this article.

However, the available summary does not contain the complete statistical line for every player. It does not provide every player’s minutes, shooting attempts, personal fouls, turnovers, or plus/minus. Those details should not be filled in using estimates.

There is also a distinction between reporting a statistical relationship and proving causation. New York recorded more rebounds and assists than Boston, but those totals alone cannot establish exactly how every possession unfolded. Full play-by-play data and game footage would be needed for a more detailed tactical assessment.

For readers checking the game independently, the official box score is the best starting point for individual statistics. The team comparison and game recap can then help place those numbers within the context of the result.

This approach makes basketball reporting more useful because it preserves the difference between documented facts and informed analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who won the Boston Celtics vs Knicks Game 4 in 2025?

The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 121-113 in Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The win gave New York a 3-1 lead in the series.

2. How many points did Jayson Tatum score against the Knicks in Game 4?

Jayson Tatum scored 42 points for Boston. He also recorded eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocks according to the supplied statistics.

3. How many points and assists did Jalen Brunson record?

Jalen Brunson finished with 39 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds. He made 14 of 25 field goals, four of eight three-pointers, and seven of nine free throws.

4. Which team had more rebounds in Game 4?

The Knicks recorded 43 rebounds, while the Celtics had 31. New York also led in offensive rebounds, collecting 13 compared with Boston’s seven.

5. Which team made more three-pointers?

Boston made 18 three-pointers on 48 attempts, while New York made 12 on 34 attempts. Despite Boston’s six-basket advantage from beyond the arc, the Knicks won by eight points.

6. Where can I find the complete player box score?

The complete box score is available on ESPN’s official game page. It is the appropriate reference for checking individual player statistics and other details not included in the summary above.

Conclusion

The boston celtics vs knicks match player stats tell the story of a game in which individual brilliance met collective execution. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 42 points, while Derrick White added 23 and Jaylen Brown contributed 20. For New York, Jalen Brunson combined 39 points with 12 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each scored 23 points.

The most decisive differences appeared in the team statistics. New York made 50 field goals to Boston’s 38, collected 43 rebounds to Boston’s 31, and recorded 25 assists compared with Boston’s 15. The Celtics made more three-pointers and free throws, but those advantages were not enough to overcome the Knicks’ overall shooting and rebounding production.

The 121-113 result gave New York a 3-1 series lead and placed Boston under significant pressure. Although the Celtics won Game 5, the Knicks eventually closed out the series in six games.

Ultimately, this matchup demonstrates why basketball performance should be evaluated through a combination of individual scoring, shooting efficiency, playmaking, rebounding, and playoff context. The final score identifies the winner, but the underlying statistics explain how the game developed and why the outcome mattered.