Knicks vs. Celtics: How & Who to Watch In an Epic Eastern Showdown

The New York Knicks' biggest test comes on Monday in the form of a visit from an old enemy and the NBA's finest.

Author:
Geoff Magliocchetti
Feb 27, 2023 11:28 AM EST

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Are you ready for some ... basketball?

It's been a while since the New York-Boston rivalry has been anything worthwhile on the hardwood. But a Monday night party at Madison Square Garden could begin to change that narrative as the scorching hot New York Knicks take on the NBA-leading Boston Celtics in Manhattan.

Vying for Boston's Eastern Conference throne might be out of the question (9.5 games out of first entering Monday night), but the Knicks have surged up the leaderboard thanks to an active five-game winning streak and wins in 10 of their last 14. The second win that latter stretch was a 120-117 overtime at TD Garden on Jan. 26, featuring a 37-point masterclass from Julius Randle. Despite Milwaukee's stretch of 14 straight victories, the Celtics have held onto homecourt advantage throughout the postseason with a 9-2 stretch since falling to the Knicks, the latest victory being a 110-107 escape from Philadelphia on Saturday night.

New York and Boston will wrap up their yearly four-game set over the next six days, as a nationally-televised rematch awaits in Beantown on Sunday night. The Knicks have not won a four-game set with the Celtics since the 2012-13 season.

What: Boston Celtics (44-17) @ New York Knicks (35-27)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG/MSG Go

Who's Favored: BOS -2.5

Keep An Eye On: Julius Randle

Randle fell victim to the apparent trope that any hardwood shortcoming involving the Knicks is guaranteed roundball comedy on All-Star Saturday, becoming a meme thanks to a subpar showing in the 3-Point Contest despite a) not coming in last and b) having, at most, 48 hours to prepare.

Anyone who has faced Randle in the brief yet exhilarating post-All-Star slate doesn't get the joke. Randle tied his career-best in scoring on the road in Washington before following it up with 28 more in Saturday's win over New Orleans. Since getting back from Salt Lake City, Randle is shooting 55 percent from the field, has sunk all eight of his free throw attempts, and has been charged with three turnovers and two fouls.

The Knicks' modern rivalry with the Celtics was previously defined by Randle marring the buzzer-beating antics of RJ Barrett last January, as that victorious MSG triple came after the two-time All-Star granted the Manhattan faithful a thumbs down for sarcastic cheers. Randle erased those sour memories with his last showing in Boston and has come to play when the spotlight has shined brightest: six of his best 10 scoring efforts this season have come against teams currently stationed in some form of postseason play. Two of those showings came against conference leaders from Boston and Denver.

Celtic to Watch: Derrick White

Despite its continued pace atop the Eastern Conference, Boston has lacked luck when it comes to recent medical reports: All-Star Jaylen Brown is confirmed to miss Monday's game due to personal reasons while White is probable with an ankle sprain. Brown was already battling a facial fracture (playing with a mask) while Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) and Marcus Smart (ankle) have also been in and out of the lineup.

Medical woes appear to be the only thing capable of slowing White down this month, as the new opening five entrant is prepared to bid farewell to one of the most enjoyable Februarys this side of Cupid and Kansas City: White has averaged 20.4 points and 5.8 assists this month, which featured a career-best 33-point showing against Charlotte on Feb. 10.

Boston, of course, is a team branded with All-Star talents (i.e. Brown, Jayson Tatum) but head coach Joe Mazzulla noted that the Celtics' depth stars like White are what allow them to truly compete amongst the NBA's finest.

“When Mike (Muscala) came here, I told him, ‘Cherish this because it might be one of the best locker rooms you have,’ the group of guys that we have and basketball players,” Mazzulla said, per MassLive.com. “So their ability to just be professional, regardless of the circumstances, is special. Fortunate to be around that.”

Prediction

The Celtics have proven that even when they're not at full strength on paper, they're still plenty formidable. As February ends, the Knicks have a golden opportunity to send a message as the spring slate begins.

It's probably a bit too late to break into the Eastern Conference penthouse and the postseason might be another story. But there's too much momentum trending in the Knicks' favor to bet against them at this rate, even with Boston's relative new century monopoly in the long-standing rivalry.