The Boston Celtics are set to host the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their second-round NBA playoff matchup Monday night.
Boston enters as heavy 9-point favorites on their home court, according to BetOnline odds.
The Celtics dominated the regular season series, sweeping all four games against New York by an average of 16.5 points.
Click the Jazz Sports link below to watch the free live stream of tonight’s game.
2025 NBA Playoffs Second Round Matchup: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Game 1 Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts
TV Channel(s): TNT, truTV
Free Live Stream: Jazz Sports
Game 1 Odds: Knicks +9 (-110) | Celtics -9 (-110)
Injuries
Both teams enter the series at full strength with no players listed on the injury report.
Game Preview
The Knicks face a tough challenge against a Celtics team that’s had their number all season.
Their last meeting on April 8 saw Boston edge New York 119-117 in overtime. The Celtics also won four of five matchups against the Knicks during their championship run last season.
"Obviously, [we have to] play better than we did [against them] throughout the regular season," admitted Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ star guard. "Be better, ready to do it from the jump, knowing it’s going to be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things."
Brunson believes his team showed improvement in their final regular season meeting.
"I feel like we played better in that [fourth] game. We adjusted from the first three times we played them, obviously still not getting it done, but definitely played better and competed better than the first three games. So that’s something we can look at and build off of."
This marks the first playoff meeting between these historic rivals since 2013.
Boston has historically had the upper hand, winning four of the seven playoff series between the franchises.
"To me, the series is at 0-0," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. "It comes down to executing simple details over and over again with a high level of physicality and attention to detail. At the same time, you have to have no expectations. It’s the playoffs. It’s two teams fighting for something."
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both teams.
Boston is trying to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the fourth straight year, continuing their remarkable run of success.
The Knicks, meanwhile, haven’t made it to the conference finals since 2000 – a 25-year drought they’re desperate to end.
ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Celtics a 67.6% chance of winning Game 1.
Recent history favors Boston too. The Knicks are just 1-8 in their last nine games against the Celtics, while Boston has won seven straight at TD Garden.
