Boston, MA
Knicks vs. Celtics: 3 Stars From Game 1’s Comeback
It’s not easy beating green, as the New York Knicks were far too willing to prove throughout last regular season. They pulled it off, however, when it mattered most.
New York will have to duplicate the feat three more times for it to prove particularly memorable but their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the defending champion Boston Celtics got off to a sterling start via a 108-105 overtime victory in the Monday night opener at TD Garden. It marks the first time they won Game 1 of a non-first round playoff series since the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana.
Below, we document the Knicks that stood out in the landmark victory, their first in five tries against the mighty Celtics this year:
Honorable Mentions
(29 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds)
The Knicks are running into the sweetest problem with Brunson, as anyone remotely involved with the team is running out of superlatives to describe the point guard’s clutch prowess. Though a bit erratic from the field (9-of-23, including 0-of-4 in overtime), Brunson put in 11 points during the fourth quarter, extending his New York franchise record of regulation-closers with double-figures in scoring (14). The Game 1 win puts Brunson on pace to secure his metropolitan legacy: if the Knicks pull off his series win it’ll be impossible to deny his New York immortality.
(8 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks)
This postseason, Bridges’ maiden playoff voyage in New York, has been about populated box scores at the right time in attempt to fully convince others about the longevity of the famous offseason trade that had him switching boroughs. Bridges likewise struggled from the field (3-of-13) dominated the play sheet over the three-plus minutes of overtime: his acrobatic steal on the sidelines led to Anunoby’s dunk that gave the Knicks the lead for good and he followed that up with a three from the corner that provided New York’s winning total. He capped things off with a scintillating strip of Jaylen Brown on Boston’s last attempt to force a sixth period, allowing the metropolitan celebration to officially commence. Bridges isn’t going to sway everyone in one night but her certainly carries more metropolitan supporters at this point in the postseason.
(29 points, 6-of-11 three-point FG, 4 rebounds)
The Knicks’ championship case has no doubt added a layer of undeniable plausibility upon Anunoby’s arrival in late 2023 and he lived up to that reputation and then some on Monday. Anunoby was by far the most consistent Knick to take the floor: the world is already well aware of his defensive impact, which is capable of bottling up the Celtics’ numerous threats, but his continued scoring prowess immediately proved itself to be an x-factor in this series. Averaging just under 23 points a game since the regional rivals played their third matchup in late February, Anunoby hit six triples on Monday, becoming just the fifth New Yorker to do so in a playoff game.
Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns as and so much more!
FIFA World Cup host cities lay out security plans ahead of matches
Host cities ramp up security and anti-human trafficking efforts ahead of FIFA World Cup matches across the U.S.
The FIFA World Cup is coming to Massachusetts, and when it comes to having a place for people to hang out together, there will be a free fan zone where everyone can celebrate the big event.
Seven World Cup matches will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA this summer, and the first one is right around the corner, to be played on June 13, with Scotland taking on Haiti.
Fan Zones are a public space to watch the game for people who don’t have tickets to the actual game. Held in public places, they broadcast the mach on giant screens to offer an immersive experience to watch the game, according to FIFA>
“At the heart of FIFA Fan Festival Boston, (a) Cultural Showcase will ignite the stage with a vibrant celebration of the spirit, creativity, and cultural heartbeat of Boston and communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” FIFA said.
Where will the fan zone be located when the World Cup games start in just 11 days?
Where is the World Cup fan zone going to be in Massachusetts?
The official FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup in Boston will be located at Boston City Hall Plaza at 1 City Hall Sq. Boston, MA.
“The festival will run daily from June 12 through June 27, offering live match broadcasts, cultural showcases, food vendors, and entertainment,” according to FIFA.
The fan zone will open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will stay open until after dark, between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. according to reports.
Activities at the fan zone
Here are some of the offerings at the fan zone in Boston, according to the FIFA website:
- Live broadcasts: Giant outdoor screens that broadcast tournament matches in high-definition.
- Entertainment & music: Live concerts, DJ sets, and performances celebrating global culture.
- Interactive activations: Skills challenges, mini-pitches, inflatable games, and sponsor booths.
- Food & merch: International food stalls, local beverage offerings, and official tournament merchandise.
How to go to the fan zone
While the game is free, you do need to register in advance.
“You can select which days and matches you plan to attend through the FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 website or the Meet Boston events page. Up to six people can register on a single application,” the World Cup Boston website says.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Despite an abysmal start to the 2026 season, the Boston Red Sox remain in the mix for a playoff spot. At least according to FanGraphs, who gives the club a 27.1% chance of reaching the postseason.
Boston’s likely path to October means winning the wild card. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 26.1% chance of winning an American League wild card. The team currently sits threes games back of the third and final wild card, despite a record of 25-33.
Don’t look for a division title this year in Beantown. FanGraphs gives the Red Sox a 1% chance of winning the AL East. Which makes sense, since the team currently sits in last place, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
But SI’s Tom Verducci and Will Laws thinks Boston has a much tougher chance of making the playoffs. In their deep dive of the postseason, the pair came up with what they call the “Line of Doom.” According to their research, a team that starts “no better than 23–31 and your season is almost over only one-third of the way through the schedule.” Here’s why.
“In the wild card era (since 1995), only one team made the postseason starting with less than 22 wins in the first 54 games, the 2005 Astros (20–34). Of the 231 teams to start 23–31 or worse, only seven made the playoffs—once every 33 times,” Verducci and Laws note.
“Since the postseason field expanded in 2022, 31 teams began 23–31 or worse. Only one, the 2024 Mets (22–32), made the playoffs. That leaves such slow starters with a 1 in 31 chance—virtually the same as the larger sample size,” the pair add.
“The fact is one-third of the season does a good job separating pretenders from contenders. And as the calendar flips to June, understand that the playoff spots won’t change very much. In the four seasons with 12 playoff spots up for grabs, teams in playoff position when May ended kept a playoff spot 73% of the time—35 of 48 teams,” Verducci and Laws conclude.
So what does this have to do with the Red Sox, you ask? It’s Boston’s record after 54 games: 23-31. The “Line of Doom.”
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