Knicks Send 6-Word Message After Beating Celtics in Game 4

Knicks Ignite Controversy with Viral Six-Word Post After Game 4 Win Over Celtics

The New York Knicks are riding high after their thrilling 121-113 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. With the win, New York takes a commanding 3-1 lead in the series and sits just one victory away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.

Jalen Brunson was once again the driving force behind the Knicks’ success, putting on a masterclass performance with 39 points and 12 assists. His shot-making, leadership, and poise under pressure have made him one of the breakout stars of the playoffs. The Knicks, often considered underdogs heading into the series, have now outplayed the favored Celtics in three of the four games.

Meanwhile, Boston’s Jayson Tatum delivered a spectacular showing of his own, scoring 42 points while stuffing the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. However, what was supposed to be a heroic night turned grim when Tatum suffered a concerning lower leg injury late in the game. Initial fears point to a possible torn Achilles, which could sideline him for the rest of the playoffs and beyond.

Despite the concern for Tatum’s health and the high-stakes nature of the series, the Knicks’ official X (formerly Twitter) account took to social media on Tuesday morning with a celebratory post that quickly sparked backlash:

“woke up and remembered KNICKS WON.”

What may have been intended as a light-hearted, confident post quickly backfired — especially among Celtics fans, who saw it as tone-deaf and disrespectful in light of Tatum’s injury. The comment section quickly filled with angry reactions, turning what was a moment of triumph for Knicks fans into a firestorm of criticism from the opposing side.

Here’s a look at how several Celtics fans reacted to the now-viral post:

• @GreenBloodedTommy: “Yeah congrats, you’re proud of beating us while our best player’s leg is probably torn in half? Real classy.”
• @Celts4Life88: “I hope Brunson enjoys the Finals from his couch after Indiana sweeps you. This post is embarrassing.”
• @BeantownBarbz: “Imagine flexing on X while a guy drops 42 and then gets carted off the court. No respect.”
• @MarcusSmartFan: “Tatum gave everything, and this is what y’all post? Stay humble. You’re not in the Finals yet.”
• @BostonTillIDie: “Typical Knicks. Haven’t been relevant in 20 years and act like they’ve won the championship. Let’s see how loud you are in Game 5.”

The Knicks have yet to respond to the backlash, but the intensity of the online debate has only added fuel to an already heated series. While Knicks fans are celebrating what could be a historic return to the Eastern Conference Finals, Celtics fans feel the timing and tone of the post showed a lack of class — especially given the seriousness of Tatum’s potential injury.

Game 5 is set for Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET in Boston, and while the Knicks will have the chance to close out the series, they can expect a hostile crowd and a Celtics team playing with pride, even if they’re without their superstar forward.

If the Celtics manage to stave off elimination, Game 6 would return to Madison Square Garden on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. But if the Knicks complete the upset on Wednesday, they’ll punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals and potentially face the Indiana Pacers, who currently lead their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers 3-1.

One thing is certain: this series has turned from basketball into something more personal — and it’s not just being fought on the court, but online too.