New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Preseason Preview: How and Who to Watch

The New York Knicks are ringing in the new year with some old friends.

New York will unofficially open its 2023-24 slate on Monday night as they face the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden in the opener of their preseason quartet. Monday's exhibition will serve as a de facto opening night preview, as both sides will return to MSG on Oct. 25 when it starts for real.

The Knicks went 3-1 in last year's early fall slate and matched that record in last year's four-game set against Boston. This will be the first of two preseason meetings between the Knicks and Celtics: a rematch in Beantown is scheduled for Oct. 17. New York has not faced Boston in the preseason since a previous two-game set in 2016.

Monday will mark the latter half of a preseason back-to-back for Boston, which topped Philadelphia 114-106 at home on Sunday night.

What: Boston Celtics (1-0) vs. New York Knicks (0-0) (Preseason)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

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

Who's Favored: NYK -7.5

Keep An Eye On: Jericho Sims

With all but one member of the Knicks' nine-man rotation back from last season, the exhibition quartet will be big for some of the reserves trying to make a name for themselves. Sims appeared in 52 games during his sophomore season but failed to convince head coach Tom Thibodeau to add a third center to his repertoire.

The second-round pick from 2021 opened his third season on a high note as Thibodeau was reportedly impressed by the way he conducted himself during the Charleston portions of training camp. New York's relative void behind Julius Randle (the rehabbing Isaiah Roby appears to be the top option alongside the undersized RJ Barrett and Josh Hart) gives Sims a new opportunity to move forward in Manhattan.

Celtic to Watch: Payton Pritchard

With Boston holding out several stars tonight, Pritchard has a prime opportunity to give the Knicks a hint of what's to come in the future. It's perhaps easy for the 25-year-old to get lost among the old (Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum) and new (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis) stars among the Celtics' lineup, but the Celtics obviously see him as part of their future, having granted him a four-year, $30 million extension to stick around over the weekend.

Pritchard went out and celebrated on Sunday with a team-best 26 points in the win over the Sixers.