New York Knicks Dominate Game 4, Boston One Loss from Elimination

For a team built on poise and depth, Boston looked lost. Jayson Tatum had moments, but they were flashes—not flames. Jaylen Brown’s inconsistency continued to haunt the C's, and without a true response to New York’s relentless defensive rotations, the Celtics got buried by a hungrier team. Coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotations drew side-eyes as the bench struggled to hold leads, and time may be running out.

Jayson Tatum’s night turned grim midway through the third quarter when he rolled his left ankle on a drive to the rim. He limped through a few more plays before sitting out the final stretch of the game. While the Celtics medical staff called it a “mild sprain,” the timing couldn’t be worse — down 3-1 and heading into an elimination game, Boston’s leader is now officially a question mark.

Tatum’s absence late in Game 4 left the Celtics scrambling offensively. Without his shot creation and defensive versatility, New York attacked relentlessly, turning a tight game into a controlled win. Boston fans held their breath as their franchise star was seen icing the ankle postgame — no walking boot, but no guarantees either.

If Tatum isn’t close to 100% in Game 5, the Celtics’ title dreams may be on crutches.

This isn’t just a hot streak — the Knicks are playing like a team that believes in something deeper. Defensive switch-ups, fluid ball movement, and key contributions from supporting players like Donte DiVincenzo and Isaiah Hartenstein gave them a playoff edge that Boston just hasn’t matched. It’s loud, it’s physical, and it’s very New York.

Now up 3-1, the Knicks have flipped the series into a pressure cooker for Boston. Back in TD Garden, it’s win or go home. And right now, it’s the Celtics who look like they’re searching for answers while the Knicks smell blood.

Game 5 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET, taking place at TD Garden in Boston.

Television Broadcast:

• TNT

• truTV

• Max (formerly HBO Max)

Streaming Options:

• Sling TV: Offers TNT and truTV in its channel lineup.

• Hulu + Live TV: Includes TNT and truTV among its channels.

• DirecTV Stream: Provides access to TNT and truTV.

• Max: Streams TNT broadcasts live. 

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