Knicks remain wary of Celtics threat on brink of snapping 25-year drought

BOSTON — It’s been a full generation. It’s finally almost time. 

The Knicks are one win away from reaching the conference finals for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. One win away from the latest step taken in the progression under coach Tom Thibodeau. One win away from dismantling the defending champions. 

For context, the first iPhone was still seven-plus years away from being released the last time the Knicks found themselves in the Eastern Conference finals. Faith Hill’s “Breathe” was the top song on the U.S. charts. “American Beauty” won Best Picture at the Oscars. Jalen Brunson was more than two months away from turning 4 years old. His father and current Knicks assistant, Rick, was actually on the team as a player. 

After their 121-113 Game 4 win over the Celtics on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks return to Boston with a 3-1 series lead. They won the first two games of the series at TD Garden, and now the Celtics will be without Jayson Tatum, who suffered a torn right Achilles tendon with just over three minutes left in Game 4. Everything has lined up for the Knicks to finally reach the league’s elite tier for the first time with this core.