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Last time Knicks made Eastern Conference Finals: New York blows out Celtics to advance to ECF vs. Pacers

The New York Knicks are officially four wins away from the NBA Finals.

With a 119-81 win over the defending champion Celtics in Madison Square Garden on Friday night, the Knicks claimed the second-round series in six games, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in decades.

From start to finish in Game 6, it was all Knicks. All five of Tom Thibodeau’s starters scored double-digit points, including a team-high 23 from OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart had a triple-double, and New York out-rebounded Boston 55-36. Despite winning one game in the series without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics were overmatched, and it didn’t help when Jaylen Brown fouled out in the third quarter of the elimination game.

Now, this 2025 Knicks team is making franchise history by making just their ninth conference finals appearance since 1970.

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Here’s a look at the Knicks’ Game 6 win over the Celtics, plus a more detailed history of their Eastern Conference Finals appearances.

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Knicks Game 6 highlights vs. Celtics

The home crowd appeared to be all the Knicks needed to close out the second-round series. The Celtics showed some life in TD Garden in Game 5, but after previously taking a 3-1 series lead, New York had no trouble finishing things off in Game 6. 

Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 21 points, opened the historic night for the Knicks with a tough bucket.

The Garden was rowdy early when Anunoby had consecutive blocks, and Mikal Bridges had consecutive baskets.

New York may have sealed Game 6 in the second quarter, going on a huge run. Miles McBride leaped for a chase-down block, then Josh Hart continued the rally with two points plus the foul.

It was McBride who closed out the first half with a 3-pointer, as well.

After their blowout victory, the Knicks were officially en route for a rivalry matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

MORE: What went wrong for the Celtics | What’s next for the Celtics?

Last time Knicks made Eastern Conference Finals

This will mark the Knicks’ first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000, a quarter-century gap since they’ve been past the second round. Since then, they’ve made a total of eight playoff appearances.

Naturally, there’s some more history with the Knicks’ 2025 run to the conference finals. The Pacers now await them with a trip to the Finals on the line, and it was those same Pacers they faced the last time they were in the series back in 2000. In fact, each of the past three times New York made the Eastern Conference Finals, it played Indiana.

In both 1999 and 2000, the Knicks and Pacers met in the ECF. New York won the series in 1999, eventually losing to the Spurs in the NBA Finals, but Indiana got revenge in 2000 with a 4-2 series victory before losing to the Lakers in the Finals.

MORE: Predictions, odds for Knicks vs. Pacers in ECF

Knicks Eastern Conference Finals history

Going back to 1970, the Knicks have made eight previous appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals. In those series, they have won four and lost four.

The last time New York made the NBA Finals was 1999, when the team beat Indiana in the conference finals then lost to San Antonio 4-2 in the Finals.

Here’s a look at the Knicks’ history in the ECF:

Year ECF Opponent Series Result
2000 Pacers Lost 4-2
1999 Pacers Won 4-2 (Lost Finals)
1994 Pacers Won 4-2 (Lost Finals)
1993 Bulls Lost 4-2
1974 Celtics Lost 4-2
1973 Celtics Won 4-3 (Won Finals)
1972 Celtics Won 4-1 (Lost Finals)
1971 Bullets Lost 4-3

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