The Celtics look to win their fifth straight sport as they host the New York Knicks. That is the second straight sport in opposition to division rivals. That is the third of 4 video games between these two groups this season. The Celtics gained 132-109 in Boston on opening night time and so they gained 131-104 in New York on February 8. They are going to meet another time at Madison Sq. Backyard on April 8.
Final season, the Celtics gained the collection between these two groups, profitable the primary 4 video games (2 in Boston and a pair of in New York) and shedding simply their closing assembly at Boston. They performed one additional sport because of the in-season match. The Celtics are 306-190 total all time vs the Knicks and they’re 165-68 in video games performed at house.
The Knicks made strikes this offseason with the objective of matching up higher with the Celtics. In Mikal Bridges, the Knicks added a wing defender who can counter the Celtics All Star wings and who can even unfold the ground. With the addition of Karl-Anthony Cities, they’ve addressed their weak spot at heart. Cities can match up with the Celtics facilities and can even hit the three, having gained the three level contest in 2022.
The one query in regards to the Knicks is their depth. Having misplaced Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, Keita Bates-Diop, Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks depth took successful. They transformed Ariel Hukporti from 2 option to an everyday contract and signed OG Anunoby, Cameron Payne and Treasured Achiuwa in free company and traded Jericho Sims for Delon Wright on the commerce deadline.
The Celtics stay 2nd within the East. They’ve gained 4 straight video games however have fallen to six behind 1st place Cleveland, who’ve gained 6 straight. They’re 3 video games forward of third place New York and eight video games forward of 4th place Indiana. They’re 17-10 at house and 8-2 of their final 10 video games. They’re 29-9 in opposition to Japanese Convention groups and 8-2 in opposition to the Atlantic Division. They’ve gained their final 4 video games.
The Knicks are third within the East, 9 video games behind the primary place Cavaliers. They’re 3 video games behind 2nd place Boston and 5 video games forward of 4th place Indiana. They’re 17-9 on the highway and 26-12 in opposition to Japanese Convention opponents. They’re 9-2 in opposition to different Atlantic Division groups. That they had gained 3 straight earlier than shedding 142-105 to Cleveland on Friday.
The Celtics started the ultimate stretch after the All Star break with a 20 level win at Philadelphia earlier than returning house to host the Knicks. They then play on the Raptors and on the Pistons earlier than a 7 sport house stand in opposition to Cleveland, Denver, Portland, Philadelphia, LA Lakers, Utah, and Oklahoma Metropolis. After the 7 house video games they may play 8 of the following 9 video games on the highway, together with one other journey out West.
For the Celtics, Xavier Tillman will miss this sport with a knee harm and Neemias Queta is questionable on account of a non-covid sickness. For the Knicks, Mitchell Robinson stays out with an ankle harm. Kevin McCullar is out with a calf harm. Josh Hart is questionable for this sport on account of a knee harm. If he can play, he’ll possible begin at small ahead. OG Anunoby is questionable with a foot harm however he performed of their sport on Friday and can possible play on this one additionally.
Possible Celtics Starters
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PG: Jrue HolidaySG: Derrick WhiteSF: Jaylen BrownPF: Jayson TatumC: Kristaps Porzingis
Celtics ReservesLuke KornetAl HorfordPayton PritchardBaylor ScheiermanJordan WalshSam HauserTorrey Craig
2 Approach PlayersJD DavisonDrew PetersonAnton Watson
Accidents/OutXavier Tillman (knee) outNeemias Queta (sickness) questionable
Head CoachJoe Mazzulla
Possible Knicks Starters
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PG: Jalen BrunsonSG: Mikal BridgesSF: Treasured Achiuwa PF: OG AnunobyC: Karl-Anthony Cities
Knicks ReservesPacome DadietCameron PayneMiles McBrideTyler KolekDelon WrightLandry ShametAriel Hukporti
2 Approach PlayersJacob Toppin Kevin McCullar, JrMatt Ryan
Accidents/Out Mitchell Robinson (ankle) out Kevin McCullar, Jr (calf) outJosh Hart (knee) questionable OG Anunoby (foot) questionable
Head Coach Tom Thibodeau
Key Matchups
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Jrue Vacation
Photograph by Sam Hodde/Getty Photos
Jalen Brunson
Photograph by Evan Bernstein/Getty Photos
Jrue Vacation vs Jalen BrunsonKnicks’ All Star Jalen Brunson was fifth in MVP voting final season. He’s averaging 26 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and seven.5 assists. He’s capturing 49.1% from the sphere and 39.1% from past the arc. In 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics to date, he averaged 29 factors, 0.5 rebounds, and three.5 assists whereas capturing 59.4% from the sphere and 44.4% from past the arc. Slowing him down must be a precedence.
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Kristaps Porzingis
Photograph by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Photos
Karl-Anthony Cities
Photograph by Scott Taetsch/Getty Photos
Kristaps Porzingis vs Karl-Anthony Cities Cities provides the Knicks a robust presence within the paint together with the flexibility to unfold the ground. He’s averaging 24.8 factors, 13.4 rebounds, and three.3 assists. He’s capturing 53.4% from the sphere and 42.7% from past the arc. In 2 video games in opposition to the Celtics this season, he averaged 10.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds, and a pair of assists, whereas capturing 47.1% from the sphere and 75% from past the arc. He might be an issue on the boards and in addition on the perimeter.
Honorable MentionJayson Tatum vs OG AnunobyAnunoby is averaging 16.1 factors, 4.6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.4 steals per sport. He’s capturing 48% from the sphere and 36.5% from past the arc. In 1 sport in opposition to the Celtics this season he completed with 4 factors, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal whereas capturing simply 14.3% from the sphere and no 3 pointers. Jayson Tatum has been taking part in very nicely however he may have his work minimize out for him as Anunoby is an excellent defender introduced in for the very goal of guarding gamers like Tatum.
Keys to the GameDefense – Protection is the important thing to profitable each sport. IThe Celtics have a defensive ranking of 109.6 (fifth) whereas the Knicks have a defensive ranking of 114.1 (18th). The Knicks rating 118.1 factors per sport (4th) whereas the Celtics rating 117.3 factors per sport (sixth). The Celtics try 48.4 threes per sport whereas the Knicks try simply 34.1 threes. However the Knicks have a greater 3 level proportion than the Celtics (37.4% to 36.9%). The Celtics should win this sport with their protection.
Rebound – Rebounding is second to protection as the important thing to profitable. The Celtics are ninth within the league, flattening 45.2 rebounds per sport whereas the Knicks are twenty third with 43 rebounds per sport. It takes effort to get rebounds and the Celtics should go all out of their effort to beat the Sixers on the boards. The Celtics additionally want to provide themselves additional possessions by rebounding on the offensive finish and hold the Knicks from getting 2nd probability factors on the defensive finish. If the Celtics wish to win this one, it’s essential that they go all out to crash the boards.
Transfer the Ball Rigorously – The Celtics want to maneuver the ball with the intention to discover the most effective shot on every possession. When the ball sticks and gamers attempt to do an excessive amount of, the Celtics battle. They’re at their finest once they go the ball and hold it transferring. However they should make cautious passes and never get sloppy as a result of the Knicks common 19.5 factors off turnovers per sport (4th).
Play All Out for 48 Minutes – When the Celtics have misplaced this season, it is actually because they weren’t taking part in as laborious as their opponents. Tom Thibodeau has his groups play laborious. The Celtics can’t afford to permit the Knicks to play tougher than them in the event that they wish to win this sport. They should play laborious from the opening tip till the ultimate buzzer and never enable the Knicks to out-work them for any stretch throughout the sport.
X-Elements Matinee Sport at Residence – The Celtics are again at house after a giant win on the highway in Philadelphia. Ordinarily, groups are at their finest when taking part in at house in entrance of their very own followers, however the Celtics this season have performed higher on the highway than they’ve at house. They’re saying the correct issues about needing to play tougher at house so hopefully we see them use house court docket and the Knicks having distractions of taking part in on the highway to their benefit on this one. Additionally, taking part in within the afternoon will be an x-factor as typically it throws gamers off their sport.
Officiating – Officiating all the time has the potential to be an x-factor. Every officiating crew calls the sport in another way. Some refs name it tight and consistently name fouls whereas others allow them to play with few fouls referred to as. The Celtics want to regulate to how the refs are calling the sport and never enable unhealthy calls or no calls to remove their focus.
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