The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, two of the NBA’s oldest and most iconic franchises, are set to renew their storied rivalry in the playoffs—something fans haven’t seen in over a decade.
These two teams have faced off a staggering 565 times over nearly 80 years, including numerous postseason clashes during the league’s early decades. They met in the playoffs five times in the 1950s, again from 1967 to 1974, and three more times from 1984 to 1990. However, since 1990, their rivalry has been largely relegated to the regular season, with just two postseason meetings since—both in the first round, the most recent being in 2013.
That drought ends Monday when the Celtics host the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET, TNT). It marks the first time these teams will face off in the playoffs beyond the opening round since 1984.
History Meets the Present
“There’s a lot of history between Boston and New York, and I don’t take that for granted,” said Celtics star Jaylen Brown. “People are going to be excited about this series. It’s our job to put on a show and take care of business.”
The Celtics-Knicks rivalry hasn’t seen postseason action since the 2013 series that ended the Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Doc Rivers era in Boston. Since then, the Celtics have played 13 different playoff opponents—including the Heat, Sixers, and Bucks—but not their closest geographical rival.
This Celtics-Knicks clash is also the first postseason meeting between any Boston and New York teams since the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the 2021 MLB wild-card game.
Old Roots, New Faces
Kristaps Porzingis, who began his NBA career in New York, knows the intensity that comes with these fanbases.
“It’s going to be fun,” Porzingis said. “The fans make it a war, and that only fuels the rivalry. Both fanbases are passionate, and that energy is going to be there from Game 1.”
While the Knicks have revamped their roster in hopes of challenging Boston’s title defense, the Celtics dominated the regular-season series. They won all four matchups, outscoring New York by an average of 16.5 points per game—often without their full lineup.
Boston’s season opener saw the team tie an NBA record for made three-pointers in a 132–109 rout. Even without Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics cruised to a 131–104 win at Madison Square Garden. They controlled the next two games as well, including a narrow 119–117 overtime victory.
Jayson Tatum led the way, averaging 33.5 points on 53.5% shooting, including nearly 48% from beyond the arc. He continued that dominant form in the first-round win over Orlando, scoring 36, 37, and 35 points in the final three games after returning from a wrist injury.
High Stakes, High Pressure
The Celtics are chasing their second straight championship—a feat not achieved in the NBA since 2018 and not by Boston since the Bill Russell era in the late 1960s. The Knicks, meanwhile, are hoping to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, after defeating the Pistons in Round 1.
Despite Boston’s regular-season dominance, Porzingis stressed the importance of staying focused.
“We’re going to be the favorites on paper,” he said. “So the pressure is on us. But the Knicks are dangerous. They’re the underdog, they have the whole city of New York behind them, and they’ve got momentum.”
He added: “We’re not defending last year’s title—we’re chasing another one. That’s the mindset.”
With history, pride, and a shot at the NBA Finals on the line, Celtics-Knicks is back—and it’s going to be a battle.