BOSTON — They are the champs, still, and they played that way when there was no alternative. They have never been a one-man show. This was the 12th game the Celtics have played without Jayson Tatum this year, and they’ve now won 10 of them. They have a champion’s heart, and a champion’s jaw.

Now we see what the Knicks have.

The Knicks came at the Celtics with haymakers Wednesday night, Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. They held a nine-point lead early in the second quarter and were playing well, then Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his third foul. They were still tied at 59 at the half. The game — the series — was still there for the taking.

The Celtics wouldn’t let them have it.