Kristaps Porzingis, Celtics Secure Sweep of Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis continue to live up to the potential the New York Knicks saw in the fourth slot of the 2015 NBA Draft. Alas for Manhattan, he does so for the rival Boston Celtics.

The Celtics secured a season sweep of the Knicks behind a Porzingis showcase, as the former Knick doomed his original NBA employers to a 119-117 overtime defeat on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Porzingis built a 34-point tally with eight three-pointers, the last of which gave Boston a permanent lead in the extra session created by Jayson Tatum's triple with just under three seconds remaining in regulation.

Celtics Knicks — Apr 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) looks for an opening against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images

Karl-Anthony Towns matched Porzingis' 34 points while also obtaining 14 rebounds in defeat. Jalen Brunson scored 27 in his second game back from a lengthy medical departure. Despite some clutch appearances, OG Anunoby saw his streak of 20-point games end at 10 after mustering 13 on Tuesday. The Celtics (59-20) added 19 to their seasonal tally against the Knicks, tying the all-time best mark sunk by a New York opponent (2023-24 Milwaukee Bucks).

Despite the relative lack of consequences, as each team was a hair away from a mostly-assured postseason fate, a spirited battle broke out at MSG, one the Knicks mostly controlled after losing the prior three meetings with Boston by a combined 63 points. New York (50-29) was eager to make a statement, especially with the Celtics boasting a full contingent despite some lingering injuries.

After never leading by more than a point in any of the prior three meetings, the Knicks boosted their Tuesday lead to as high as 11 in the first half. Towns nearly had his seemingly-nightly double-double by the end of the first half with 22 points and nine boards while Mitchell Robinson, seeing the Celtics for the first time this season, forced the green enemy to retreat to the top of the key, where they were 8-of-26 with an extra point on the line.

But a late Boston push at the end of the second set the tone for the rest of the game, as did an immediate 11-2 run engineered by Porzingis and Jrue Holiday at the onset of the third. The Knicks did not let things spiral out of control despite losing the third period by 11, as neither team led by more than seven in the fourth. Even so, the Celtics' dominance seemed poised to continue after a Porzingis step-back made it a five-point game with four minutes remaining.

A slow yet steady shutdown, however, kept the ball rolling, as the Knicks denied Boston any tallies from the field during an ensuing 10-2 run. They swiped the lead on Anunoby's putback with 1:29 left and found insurance with a Mikal Bridges double off a feed from Brunson. After Tatum sank only two of three awarded free throws, the Knicks went back up three when a streaking Josh Hart scored off another savvy pass from the point guard.

But that only set the stage for further dramatics that fell in Boston's favor: New York failed to foul Tatum before he let it fly at the top of the key, tying the game before Hart's would-be winner fell short. In overtime, neither team broke ahead by more than two before Porzingis broke the Garden's hearts with his fateful three with 40 seconds remaining. The Knicks' attempt to counter went by the wayside when Bridges dropped a pass intended for him in the corner, allowing Boston to run the clock out with free throws.

Despite the win, Boston is no longer eligible for the Eastern Conference's top seed, secured in second place thanks to top-ranked Cleveland's Tuesday win over Chicago. The Knicks, still burdened by a winless record against the Association podium of Boston, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City, once again missed out on an opportunity to officially lock up the East's third slot, as Indiana prevailed over Washington to extend the chase.

With that in mind, the Knicks face a potential first-round playoff preview on Thursday night when they hit the road to face the sixth-seeded Detroit Pistons (7 p.m. ET, MSG).

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns as and so much more!