The New York Knicks disappointed their home crowd at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, falling 115-93 to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their playoff series. The Celtics stormed to a 36-20 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, cutting the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1 ahead of a crucial Game 4 on Monday night in New York.
Fans were left frustrated not only by the loss but also by the team’s performance and demeanor. Center Mitchell Robinson came under scrutiny for his struggles at the free-throw line, going just 4-for-12 on the night. But what truly sparked debate was how the team carried itself after the final buzzer.
A video shared by the X account New York Basketball captured Knicks players walking off the court without shaking hands with Celtics players. The dejected exit sparked a wave of criticism from the account’s 79,000+ followers.
“Not worried at all,” one optimistic fan commented. But many others were less forgiving:
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“Feel bad for everyone who spent their hard-earned money to watch that disgrace.”
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“Played soft, played scared, just a terrible game by them.”
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“Sleepy performance by a soft team today. Might as well not even shown up to the arena.”
Despite a strong showing from Jalen Brunson, who scored 27 points, the Knicks couldn’t match the Celtics’ depth and energy. As they prepare for Monday’s must-win game, their body language and postgame actions suggest they understand the gravity of the moment — and the rising pressure from fans and critics alike.