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
May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots for three points against the Boston Celtics in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images
(29 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds)
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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.
May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges (25) drives the ball against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images
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.
May 5, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) in the second quarter during game one of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images
(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.
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Investigators identified Tyler Brown of Boston as the man who allegedly opened fire on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, leaving two victims with life-threatening injuries.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Brown fired 50 to 60 shots on the busy road shortly after 1 p.m. Monday.
Two male victims were hit in vehicles, Ryan said. They are in critical condition and fighting for their lives.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper and a civilian with a license to carry a firearm went toward the gunman and fired their weapons at him. Officers treated Brown at the scene, and he was brought to a Boston hospital, where he is in intensive care, according to the district attorney.
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This video shared with NBC10 Boston appears to show a man opening fire at cars on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday, May 11, 2026.
Authorities have, so far, shared limited information about the suspect.
“Mr. Brown is from Boston, and apparently was in the process of moving here. We understand that Mr. Brown was under the supervision of either the Massachusetts Probation Department or Department of Parole,” Ryan said.
She did not elaborate on why Brown may have been on probation or parole.
“We will address Mr. Brown’s criminal record, if any, at the arraignment,” she said.
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Ryan added that she did not know enough about Brown’s condition to say whether he would be arraigned in court or in a hospital bed. The timing was also not clear.
He will face two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and firearms charges, and “a variety of other charges as we unfold what took place, exactly, and we have a chance to speak to the many, many people who were out there,” Ryan said.
An inbound stretch of Storrow Drive and Soldiers Field Road will be closed each night through August for tunnel repairs, officials announced.
Starting Monday, the closures will begin at 8 p.m. and last until 5 a.m., state officials said.
Road closures begin at North Harvard Street in Allston and stretch along the Charles River Esplanade to Mugar Way in Boston, near the Hatch Memorial Shell, officials said.
Traffic will be detoured into Cambridge over the Anderson Bridge, along Memorial Drive, and then be routed into Boston over the Longfellow Bridge.
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The closures will allow ongoing repairs to the Storrow Drive Tunnel in the Back Bay.The work is the first phase of a two-stage project to extend the lifespan of the tunnel, which carries roughly 50,000 drivers to and from downtown Boston daily.
The outbound portion of the tunnel and accompanying roadways will not be affected.
State transportation officials said changes to the work schedule will be made when necessary to minimize impacts during major local events at TD Garden, Fenway Park, or during the FIFA World Cup and 250th anniversary celebrations scheduled for this summer.
Additional changes may be made without notice due to weather.
Transportation officials have not specified when the closures will end.
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Bryan Hecht can be reached at bryan.hecht@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @bhechtjournalism.
OXFORD — Ole Miss softball is back in the NCAA Tournament after making the Women’s College World Series a season ago.
The Rebels (34-24) will play Boston (46-13) on May 15 (1 p.m. CT, ESPNU) in the Lubbock Regional. Ole Miss is the No. 2 seed in the regional, and Boston is the No. 3.
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Texas Tech (52-6), the No. 11 overall seed and regional host, will face No. 4 Marist (37-19).
The Rebels went 6-18 in SEC play this season, and have a largely new-look roster from the team that made the WCWS last season.
Ole Miss beat South Carolina and Tennessee in the SEC Tournament to improve its seed.
Freshman Madi George has burst onto the scene in the SEC. The first-year infielder leads Ole Miss with a .385 batting average. She has a team-high 21 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Seniors Emilee Boyer (3.86 ERA), Kyra Aycock (3.97 ERA) and junior Lily Whitten (3.04 ERA) are the primary options in the circle for coach Jamie Trachsel.
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Trachsel is in her sixth season leading the Ole Miss program. She led the Rebels to their first WCWS appearance in program history in 2025.
What to know about Boston, Texas Tech and Marist in Lubbock Regional
Boston entered the Patriot League Tournament as the top seed and the Terriers delivered. Boston beat No. 2 Colgate 12-1, becoming the second team in Patriot League history to four-peat as conference champions. Boston is on a 12-game winning streak. Kylie Doherty leads the team with a .396 batting average and 26 home runs.
Texas Tech made the 2025 WCWS championship series, losing to Texas in three games.
Texas Tech lost just three Big 12 games this season but lost in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. The Red Raiders are a strong threat to get to the WCWS again. There are four Texas Tech batters hitting over .400. Star pitcher NiJaree Canady leads the Red Raiders with a 1.24 ERA. She has 209 strikeouts.
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Marist plays in the MAAC and won the conference tournament. Marist split a two-game series against South Carolina early in the season. Ava Metzger (12-3, 2.51 ERA) and Peyton Pusey (.404 batting average) lead the team.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
