Celtics Prepare for Knicks Visit to TD Garden
The Boston Celtics return to TD Garden on Tuesday night looking to extend their recent momentum against one of the league’s hottest teams. The New York Knicks enter the matchup on a four-game winning streak and sit at 13-6, playing some of their most efficient basketball of the season on both ends. Boston, meanwhile, has quietly found its footing despite an uneven start and sits just two games back of New York in the standings at 11-9. With both teams posting strong recent stretches, each 7-3 in their last ten, the matchup carries early-season implications for Eastern Conference positioning. TD Garden has been kind to the Celtics this year, but the Knicks’ high-powered offense will test Boston’s defensive structure from the opening tip.
The Celtics will rely heavily on their recent balance and improved consistency. Boston has gone 7-3 against the spread over its last ten games and is beginning to generate more reliable scoring nights, averaging 114.9 points per game. Their success often hinges on surpassing the 112.9 points New York typically allows; when Boston hits that mark, they own a strong 9-3 record. Jaylen Brown continues to lead the charge offensively in Jayson Tatum’s absence, while Payton Pritchard’s recent playmaking has added needed stability. Boston’s ability to generate efficient looks will be critical, especially against a Knicks team that not only scores at a high level but also rebounds extremely well.
New York enters the game with one of the league’s most potent offensive attacks, averaging 120.4 points per contest, ranking fifth in the NBA. Jalen Brunson remains the engine of the Knicks’ offense, putting up 28.5 points per game while shooting nearly 48 percent from the field. Karl-Anthony Towns’s interior scoring and elite rebounding provide a physical challenge for a Celtics team still adjusting to life without Kristaps Porzingis. Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart continue to anchor New York’s wing production with versatility and defensive toughness. The Knicks’ efficiency and depth have made them dangerous throughout this winning streak, although they will be without sharpshooter Landry Shamet and versatile forward OG Anunoby due to injuries.
Injuries continue to shape both rotations heading into Tuesday. Boston remains without Jayson Tatum, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury, while Derrick White and Neemias Queta are listed as day-to-day. The Celtics have managed competitive play despite their roster challenges, thanks largely to the elevated efforts of role players and improved bench contributions. New York will be missing important defensive pieces, but the strong play of Brunson, Towns, and Hart has helped compensate for those losses. With both teams shorthanded, depth and in-game adjustments could sway the outcome.
The matchup sets up as a test of pace, physicality, and execution. Boston’s defense has been among the league’s best statistically, allowing just 110.9 points per game, but it will need to elevate further against a Knicks offense capable of overwhelming opponents. New York has been dominant at home but more inconsistent on the road, giving the Celtics a real opportunity to seize control early. If Jaylen Brown sets the tone offensively and Boston’s defense limits Brunson’s creation, the Celtics could hand New York its first loss since late November. With both teams looking to build on recent momentum, Tuesday’s game promises high intensity and meaningful December basketball at TD Garden.
