NEW YORK — The Knicks weren’t ready for their prime time moment in Game 5 at TD Garden, unable to end a two-decade drought of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals despite facing a Celtics team without injured star Jayson Tatum.

Celtics star Jayson Tatum won’t be far from Madison Square Garden when Boston faces a must-win situation against the New York Knicks on Friday night as the defending champions attempt to force a decid

Derrick White had 34 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 127-102 Game 5 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night that kept them alive in the Eastern Conference s

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, left, speaks with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) AP

Head coach Joe Mazzulla said Wednesday afternoon that Tatum, who is out for the foreseeable future after rupturing his right Achilles at the end of Game 4, sent a message to players and Celtics staffers with the team down 3-1 to the Knicks. When pressed on what Tatum actually said, Mazzulla seemingly bristled.

Before they can think of a rematch vs. Indy in the 2024 East Finals, they will need to win Game 6 on the road -- and then Game 7 at home.