The Boston Celtics swept the New York Knicks in the regular season by an average margin of 16 points, winning each game comfortably. As the 2025 NBA Playoffs tip off, the question remains—can the Knicks change the narrative with both teams dealing with injuries?
Knicks vs. Celtics 2025 Playoffs Schedule
Game 1: Monday, May 5 – Knicks at Celtics, 7 PM ET (TNT)
Game 2: Wednesday, May 7 – Knicks at Celtics, 7 PM ET (TNT)
Game 3: Saturday, May 10 – Celtics at Knicks, Time TBD (ABC)
Game 4: Monday, May 12 – Celtics at Knicks, Time TBD (ESPN)
Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 – Knicks at Celtics, Time TBD (TNT)*
Game 6: Friday, May 16 – Celtics at Knicks, Time TBD (ESPN)*
Game 7: Monday, May 19 – Knicks at Celtics, 8 PM ET (TNT)*
*If necessary
Player to Watch: Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns will be a central figure for New York in this series. Against Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis, Towns must step up on both ends of the floor. He underperformed late in the Pistons series, and if he repeats that form, the Knicks could be swept. Defense will be just as critical as offense—Boston exploited Towns regularly during their regular season matchups. The return of Mitchell Robinson may allow Tom Thibodeau to use a bigger lineup, but Towns must be consistently elite for New York to have a real shot, no matter how well Jalen Brunson performs.
— Raphielle Johnson, Rotoworld
Three Keys to the Series
1. Can the Knicks follow Orlando’s defensive approach?
The Magic disrupted Boston by sticking to disciplined, one-on-one defense without overhelping, forcing the Celtics into isolation plays and reducing their three-point volume. The Knicks may try to mimic this, but it’s unclear whether Tom Thibodeau is willing to stray from his usual system. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are strong individual defenders, but New York lacks Orlando’s length and physicality. Expect the Knicks to switch frequently, as they did in their last two meetings with Boston. That, however, may just allow Boston to revert to its drive-and-kick offense, which remains one of the league’s best.
2. Brunson and Towns on defense
Boston is relentless when targeting defensive weaknesses. Both Brunson and Towns will be placed in constant pick-and-roll actions, forcing them to defend in space. The Celtics will aim to wear down New York’s two most important offensive players. For the Knicks to keep pace, they’ll need to increase their tempo and avoid breakdowns on defense—a tall task against one of the NBA’s most disciplined teams.
3. Impact of injuries
The Celtics are nursing several minor injuries. Jrue Holiday is managing a sore hamstring, Jayson Tatum is playing through a wrist issue, and Jaylen Brown has a knee impingement and a bone bruise. Fortunately, they had time to rest after eliminating Orlando. The Knicks, on the other hand, continued playing and enter the series with Jalen Brunson dealing with a sore ankle and Josh Hart managing a wrist injury. While both teams are not at full strength, injuries are unlikely to determine the outcome.
— Kurt Helin, NBC Sports
Expert Predictions
Jay Croucher (Lead Betting Analyst): Celtics in 5
This is the worst possible matchup for the Knicks. Boston’s spacing will expose Towns defensively, and Tatum and Brown will relentlessly target Brunson on switches. The Celtics also have the defensive tools to make Brunson’s life difficult. The Knicks have talent, but their inconsistency at the highest level makes a deep run unlikely.
Vaughn Dalzell (Betting Analyst): Celtics in 6
Expect a competitive series, but Boston’s depth and balance give them the edge. While both teams feature four reliable scorers, the Celtics have a more impactful bench. New York’s role players—McBride, Robinson, Payne—are unlikely to match the production of Boston’s second unit.
Kurt Helin (Lead NBA Writer): Celtics in 5
This matchup heavily favors Boston. They should control both the three-point game and the possession battle, which New York simply can’t afford. The Knicks might steal one game if Boston goes cold and Brunson takes over, but this looks like a gentleman’s sweep at best.