New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (Second Round Preview)
CLASH OF TWO WORLDS
Celtics won the regular season series, 4-0.
FOUGHT BATTLES
OCTOBER 22, 2024
Outcome:
Celtics won, 132-109
Scoring leaders (points):
Knicks:
Jalen Brunson (22)
Miles McBride (22)
Mikal Bridges (16)
Josh Hart (12)
Karl-Anthony Towns (12)
Cameron Payne (11)
Celtics:
Jayson Tatum (37)
Derrick White (24)
Jaylen Brown (23)
Jrue Holiday (18)
Al Horford (11)
Sam Hauser (10)
FEBRUARY 8, 2025
Outcome:
Celtics won, 131-104
Scoring leaders (points):
Celtics:
Jayson Tatum (40)
Payton Pritchard (25)
Derrick White (17)
Luke Kornet (14)
Jaylen Brown (12)
Neemias Queta (11)
Knicks:
Jalen Brunson (36)
Josh Hart (17)
Cameron Payne (14)
Mikal Bridges (11)
FEBRUARY 23, 2025
Outcome:
Celtics won, 118-105
Scoring leaders (points):
Knicks:
Karl-Anthony Towns (24)
Jalen Brunson (22)
Josh Hart (20)
Mikal Bridges (14)
OG Anunoby (10)
Celtics:
Jayson Tatum (25)
Jaylen Brown (24)
Derrick White (19)
Kristaps Porzingis (15)
Jrue Holiday (14)
APRIL 8, 2025
Outcome:
Celtics won in OT, 119-117
Scoring leaders (points):
Celtics:
Kristaps Porzingis (34)
Jayson Tatum (32)
Jrue Holiday (16)
Derrick White (14)
Knicks:
Karl-Anthony Towns (34)
Jalen Brunson (27)
Mikal Bridges (14)
OG Anunoby (13)
Josh Hart (10)
NO PLACE LIKE HOME…OR THE ROAD
The Knicks were 27-14 at home and 24-17 on the road.
The Celtics were 28-13 at home and 33-8 on the road.
TEAM AVERAGES
Knicks:
115.8 points scored
43.3 field goals (48.6%)
12.6 3-pointers (36.9%)
14.3 second chance points scored
11.6 clutch points scored
Celtics:
116.3 points scored
41.6 field goals (46.2%)
17.8 3-pointers (36.8%)
14.2 second chance points scored
10.4 clutch points scored
TEAM AVERAGES (PLAYOFFS)
Knicks:
108.0 points scored
39.5 field goals (45.0%)
11.0 3-pointers (36.9%)
16.8 second chance points scored
11.2 clutch points scored
Celtics:
106.4 points scored
36.6 field goals (46.9%)
11.8 3-pointers (37.8%)
12.6 second chance points scored
7.0 clutch points scored
TEAM AVERAGES (vs. opponent)
Knicks (vs. Celtics):
108.8 points scored
41.5 field goals (46.9%)
11.3 3-pointers (35.2%)
Celtics (vs. Knicks):
125.0 points scored
44.8 field goals (50.0%)
21.0 3-pointers (43.5%)
LINE ‘EM UP
Knicks:
PG: Jalen Brunson
SG: Mikal Bridges
SF: Josh Hart
PF: OG Anunoby
Celtics:
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG: Derrick White
SF: Jaylen Brown
PF: Jayson Tatum
PLAYER AVERAGES (REGULAR SEASON)
Knicks:
Brunson: 26.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 2.3 3PM
Bridges: 17.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.0 3PM
Hart: 13.6 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.1 3PM
Anunoby: 18.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 2.3 3PM
Towns: 24.4 PPG, 12.8 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.0 3PM
Celtics:
Holiday: 11.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 1.7 3PM
White: 16.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 3.5 3PM
Brown: 22.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.8 3PM
Tatum: 26.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.5 3PM
Porzingis: 19.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 2.5 3PM
PLAYER AVERAGES (PLAYOFFS)
Knicks:
Brunson: 31.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 8.2 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.5 3PM
Bridges: 16.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 1.8 3PM
Hart: 11.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.2 3PM
Anunoby: 17.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 2.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 2.2 3PM
Towns: 19.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 2.0 3PM
Celtics:
Holiday: 10.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.5 3PM
White: 17.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.8 3PM
Brown: 23.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.6 3PM
Tatum: 31.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 3.0 3PM
Porzingis: 12.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 0.4 3PM
PLAYER AVERAGES (vs. opponent)
Knicks (vs. Celtics):
Brunson: 26.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, 0.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 3.3 3PM
Bridges: 13.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.8 3PM
Hart: 14.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 0.3 3PM
Anunoby: 9.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 0.7 3PM
Towns: 19.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 1.8 3PM
Celtics (vs. Knicks):
Holiday: 16.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.7 3PM
White: 18.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 4.8 3PM
Brown: 16.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 1.8 3PM
Tatum: 33.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 7.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 5.5 3PM
Porzingis: 24.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 5.0 3PM
Cory Nelson is a contributor to The Lead. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson, Instagram @ckenzynelson, and Threads @ckenzynelson