The Knicks etched their names in franchise history, becoming the first incarnation of the organization to reach the Eastern Conference finals since the 1999-2000 season with the 4-2 victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics. It happened in historic fashion, not just for the time passed but for the margin of victory, as they ended the series with the most lopsided win in franchise postseason history.

With a chance to close out the series  in Game 5 on Wednesday in Boston, the Knicks played a miserable game as the Celtics — playing without Jayson Tatum — looked every bit the prideful defending champions in a 25-point win. So how did the Knicks turn it around in two days and come out with their best effort of the playoffs in the 119-81 win in Game 6?

“Just the way, the whole day of Game 5, it just wasn’t us,” Jalen Brunson said. “And we knew that, we reflected on it, and we came back and we said we need to be ready, we need to be better. The way we prepared, the way we talked out there, the way we made it an emphasis to have each other’s back and to continue to cover for each other. It’s focused on the defensive side of the ball, and when we’re doing that and offense, we’re flowing. So we’ve just gotta focus on the little things, and we did that.”

“Yeah, it was time,” Deuce McBride said. “It was time for us to play with the lead and play tough with the lead and be the more physical team and outlast them.

“I mean, honestly, it was in my mind. We have a lot of great leaders in this locker room, a lot of guys that have been through finals, won championships. We all felt like we have a chance to do something special. So we all felt like it was time.”

While there were numerous offensive highlights, the Knicks turned around their defensive effort after Game 5 and really put forth a different effort from what they had shown the entire series. They limited Boston to 37 points in the first half, the lowest total for the Celtics this season in a first half. Boston shot 36% overall and 29% from three-point range.

“I feel like we just watched the film [of Game 5] and we kind of discussed our communication and effort and our sense of urgency to start the game,” Josh Hart said. “It’s something we knew we had to fix. We had to get stops and we have to communicate better in transition and get out there and play fast and have fun. I think that’s the biggest thing. We focused on communication and defensive transition.”

The open three-point shooters the Knicks lost in transition in previous games were blanketed this time. Maybe there was no better example than in the second quarter, when 7-1 Mitchell Robinson closed out on Jaylen Brown in the corner, rushing out to contest an open three. He got there quickly and got his footing, enveloping Brown and forcing a turnover.

Robinson's defense?

“He’s very athletic, he anticipates well,” Tom Thibodeau said. “But I thought overall our team commitment and defensive transition, guys were covering for each other, they were communicating really well, they understood what we had to take away in order to win. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re talking about defensive transition or you’re talking about pick-and-roll defense. It has to be clean, it has to be concise and it has to be tied together. When you do that, particularly against a team that’s as well-versed as they are and their ability to shoot and spread you out, you have to be very disciplined. I thought we were tonight.”

The Knicks saw their season end last year with Tyrese Haliburton trolling them (remember the sweatshirt with Reggie Miller with his hands around his neck?) and injuries piling up until there was just a shell of the team that had begun the playoffs with so much hope.

It might be unexpected after the stellar regular seasons that Cleveland and Boston had, but the Knicks are looking forward to a chance at payback.

“It’s going to be a tough opponent,” Hart said. “They push the pace. They run on makes, misses. And it’s going to be a huge communication series for us. We are going to have to be locked in on every possession. Have to get back defensively. We can build off this game. I feel our communication was great today and that’s something we can carry into that series. We just have to make sure we are prepared.”