The energy at TD Garden last December wasn't just typical regular-season noise. It felt heavy. When the Boston Celtics pulled off that 123-117 win over the New York Knicks, it wasn't just another notch in the win column; it was a statement. But if you look at the standings right now in January 2026, the Knicks are sitting a half-game up for second in the East.
Things are changing.
For years, this rivalry was mostly nostalgia and Bill Russell highlights. Honestly, for a long time, the Celtics just owned the Knicks. But ever since New York knocked Boston out of the 2025 playoffs in six games—shoutout to Jalen Brunson for that absolute masterclass—the vibe has flipped. People keep waiting for the Knicks to "act like the Knicks" and fall apart. It hasn't happened. Instead, we’re seeing a legitimate tug-of-war for the soul of the Atlantic Division.
Why Celtics vs Knicks is the best watch in the NBA right now
Basketball is better when the Garden—both of them—is rocking. You've got two teams that genuinely don't seem to like each other. It’s not just the fans, though the Boston-New York hate is basically a birthright. It's the styles of play. Boston wants to bury you under a mountain of three-pointers. They’ll shoot 45 of them and not blink. Meanwhile, the Knicks under Mike Brown (and following the Thibs blueprint) want to turn the game into a rock fight.
The Jalen Brunson factor
Let’s be real: Jalen Brunson is the closest thing New York has had to a basketball deity since Patrick Ewing. He’s currently averaging about 29.1 points per game this season. He isn't the fastest or the tallest, but he's a wizard in the paint. Watching him navigate the Celtics' perimeter defense—which is basically a gauntlet of All-Defensive players like Derrick White and Jaylen Brown—is like watching a chess match at 100 miles per hour.
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In their October 2025 meeting, Brunson dropped 31 points to lead the Knicks to a 105-95 win. He just doesn't rattle.
Boston’s shooting vs. New York’s grit
The Celtics' roster is a bit of a "math problem" for the rest of the league. Joe Mazzulla has them playing a style where if they hit 40% of their threes, you’re basically dead. Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP-adjacent level, putting up 30 points a night with a ferocity that’s honestly scary.
But then you have the Knicks' defense. Adding Mikal Bridges and keeping OG Anunoby has given them the "wing stoppers" you need to actually bother Jayson Tatum and Brown. It's a clash of philosophies.
- Boston: Pace, space, and volume shooting.
- New York: Rebounding, physical defense, and Brunson’s mid-range magic.
What happened to Jayson Tatum?
You can't talk about Celtics vs Knicks without mentioning the elephant in the room: Tatum’s health. That season-ending Achilles injury in the 2025 playoffs changed everything. It’s the reason the Knicks made it through that series, and it’s the reason Boston has had to lean so heavily on Jaylen Brown and Derrick White this year.
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Tatum is on the road back, and the latest reports have him eyeing a return timeline that could align with the stretch run. Without him, the Celtics are still elite—their point differential is actually the best in the East—but they’ve had some weird lapses. Losing to the Spurs and a shorthanded Nuggets squad at home earlier this month? That’s not the "invincible" Boston team we saw two years ago.
The Karl-Anthony Towns evolution
When the Knicks brought in KAT, everyone wondered if he was "tough enough" for New York. Well, averaging 21.7 points and nearly 12 rebounds a game seems to be answering that. His ability to pull Kristaps Porziņģis or Al Horford out of the paint is huge. In the December game, KAT tallied 26 points and 13 boards, keeping New York in it until the final whistle.
He gives the Knicks a dimension they haven't had: a center who can actually shoot the lights out.
Historic context you actually care about
This rivalry goes back to 1946. We’re talking over 570 meetings. While the Celtics lead the all-time regular-season series 347-225, the recent history is way more balanced.
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Remember the 2013 series where Carmelo Anthony finally broke through against the Garnett/Pierce era Celtics? Or the 90s battles? We are back in one of those "golden eras" where both teams are title contenders at the exact same time. It’s rare. Usually, one is up while the other is rebuilding in the basement. Not today.
Looking ahead to February 8
The next time these two face off is February 8, 2026, at TD Garden. If you’re looking for actionable ways to track this matchup, keep an eye on these three specific things:
- The Three-Point Attempt Rate: If Boston takes more than 45 threes, they usually win. If the Knicks can keep that number under 35 through physical perimeter play, the game flips.
- The Rebounding Margin: Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson have to dominate the glass. Boston plays "small" a lot, and New York has to punish them for it.
- The Bench Scoring: Payton Pritchard has been a flamethrower for the Celtics off the bench (averaging 16.7 PPG). The Knicks' bench, led by Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson, needs to cancel that out.
If you’re betting or just playing fantasy, watch the "Points Over" for OG Anunoby. He’s been quietly efficient, often hovering around that 16-18 point mark while doing all the dirty work on defense.
The East is no longer a one-team race. The road to the Finals very likely goes through the I-95 corridor between Penn Station and North Station. Whether you bleed green or orange and blue, this is the best version of this rivalry we’ve seen in thirty years.
Your Next Steps:
Check the injury report 48 hours before the February 8th tip-off. Specifically, look for updates on Jayson Tatum's "return to play" progression, as his presence (even on a minutes restriction) completely shifts the betting line and defensive assignments for OG Anunoby. Also, track the Knicks' defensive rating over their last five games; they tend to play in "surges" of defensive intensity that predict their success against high-volume shooting teams like Boston.