Knicks vs Celtics: Scores, Predictions, Odds & Rivalry

The Knicks have flipped the script on their oldest NBA rival. After years of Boston dominance, New York posted a 3-1 record against the Celtics through April 2026—including a pair of lopsided wins that left TD Garden quiet. Whether you bleed green, orange and blue, or just love a good grudge match, here’s where the rivalry stands and what the numbers actually say.

Latest Score: Knicks 112-106 Celtics (Apr 9, 2026) ·
Recent Dominance: Knicks 111-89 win, Brunson 31 pts (Feb 8, 2026) ·
Season Record: Celtics 1-3 vs Knicks in 2025-26

The following key facts are documented across official game records and sports databases.

Who is favored to win, the Celtics or the Knicks?

Heading into their April 9, 2026 matchup at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks held a clear edge. New York installed as 5.5-point favorites with a moneyline of -216, while the Celtics sat at +178, according to CBS Sports betting analysis. The over/under line of 212.5 reflected expectations of a high-scoring affair—one the SportsLine model backed strongly, projecting combined scoring above that threshold in roughly 68% of 10,000 simulations.

That favoritism reflected the season’s trajectory. The Celtics managed just one win across four tries against New York in 2025-26, per StatMuse. The Knicks’ three victories included two romps: a 22-point blowout at TD Garden on February 8, and a 6-point margin at MSG on April 9 that proved decisive. Celtics bettors who backed Boston on February 8 suffered a rough night—the Celtics entered as 4-point favorites but lost by 25, per Predictem betting preview.

Current odds and predictions

For the April 9 game, the Knicks’ recent home form made them dangerous. New York averaged 134.5 points over its previous four home games before facing Boston, according to CBS Sports—well above what the Celtics typically allow. The two prior meetings that season averaged 220 total points without Jayson Tatum on the floor, a stat that influenced the high over/under. TeamRankings had projected the February 8 final at 111-89, nearly nailing the actual scoreline, and their models gave the Knicks a significant edge heading into April.

The odds and model projections gave New York a clear edge heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Key player matchups

Jalen Brunson continued his strong play against Boston, posting 25 points and 10 assists in the April 9 win, per NBA YouTube game highlights. Josh Hart added 26 points with five made threes—a performance that shifted momentum in New York’s favor late. On the Boston side, Jayson Tatum delivered a near triple-double with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points, according to Knicks.com official game notes. Baylor Scheierman chipped in 10 points and 13 rebounds for Boston in a losing effort.

The pattern holds across matchups: when Brunson and Hart both crack 20, the Knicks have found a winning formula against their Atlantic Division rivals.

Where is game 6 of Celtics vs. Knicks?

No official game 6 date or venue had been scheduled as of the most recent data. The April 9, 2026 meeting at Madison Square Garden marked the latest chapter, with both teams still competing in the regular season—New York sitting 52-28, Boston at 54-26, per NBA YouTube highlights. If a playoff series materializes, game 6 would shift to the road team—Boston if the Knicks host, New York if the Celtics do.

Venue details

Madison Square Garden in New York City has hosted the Knicks’ home dates in this rivalry. The venue carries a reputation for electric crowds that have witnessed several recent Knicks triumphs, including the February 8, 2026 rout. TD Garden in Boston served as the site of the February game, where the Knicks handed the Celtics their worst loss of the season head-to-head. Both arenas rank among the NBA’s loudest environments, a factor that amplifies the rivalry’s intensity.

The home-court advantage in these venues has historically favored the team hosting, though New York’s 2025-26 road win at TD Garden shows the Knicks can win in Boston when they are locked in.

Upcoming schedule

The official NBA schedule beyond April 2026 had not listed additional Knicks-Celtics dates in the available research. Fans tracking potential playoff meetings should monitor the league’s schedule release for any rescheduled or playoff-format dates. The rivalry guarantees primetime slots whenever these teams meet, whether in the regular season or postseason.

What are the odds the Knicks win the finals?

The Knicks entered the final stretch of the 2025-26 season with 19-1 odds to win the NBA Championship, according to the CBS Sports betting analysis. Those odds reflected a team that had proven it could beat Boston convincingly—and had done so multiple times. Whether New York can sustain that level against other elite competition remains the larger question.

NBA championship odds

At 19-1, the Knicks sat well behind the league’s favorites but ahead of several contenders. Their wins over the Celtics helped validate those odds, showing New York could dominate a fellow contender on the road and at home. The odds implied roughly a 5% chance of winning it all—a figure that felt aggressive to some analysts but defensible given the Knicks’ 52-28 record and head-to-head dominance over Boston.

The market priced New York as a legitimate contender, not a pretender, based on their ability to handle Boston head-to-head.

Finals MVP odds

Individual hardware chances depended heavily on how far the Knicks advanced. Jalen Brunson’s 31-point outburst against Boston on February 8 demonstrated his ability to take over close games, per ESPN game recap. If New York reached the Finals, Brunson would likely anchor their title hopes, with his scoring and playmaking shaping every series outcome.

What the odds tell us: the market believed in New York’s ceiling but demanded more proof against non-Celtics opponents before elevating their title probability.

Who is the Knicks biggest rival?

The Boston Celtics represent the Knicks’ most storied rival, a matchup that dates to December 7, 1946—when New York won 90-65 in the first-ever meeting, per Wikipedia Celtics-Knicks rivalry page. Over nearly 80 years of competition, the teams have met more than 500 times in the regular season and 73 times in the playoffs, according to NESN rivalry explainer. No other opponent comes close to that volume or historical weight.

Celtics rivalry history

The Celtics-Knicks feud is built on proximity, contrasting styles, and playoff history. Both teams hail from major Northeastern markets, and their fan bases have maintained the competitive fire across generations. The Knicks’ 2025-26 dominance—winning three of four meetings including two blowouts—added a new chapter without erasing the rivalry’s long Celtics-heavy edge. In the three seasons before 2025-26, Boston held an 11-8 advantage across 19 meetings, per TeamRankings head-to-head data.

The historical balance shifts toward Boston over decades, but the 2025-26 chapter belongs to New York.

Other rivals like Nets

The Knicks-Nets rivalry exists but lacks the historical depth of the Celtics matchup. Geographic proximity in the New York metro area fuels some competitive tension, but the Nets’ shorter franchise history means fewer memorable moments. For purists, the Celtics remain the standard—and the 2025-26 season proved why: Knicks fans finally got to enjoy watching their team silence Boston twice in the same season.

Has there ever been a 4-0 sweep in the NBA Finals?

Yes, the NBA Finals has ended in a 4-0 sweep on multiple occasions. The most recent came when the Miami Heat swept the San Antonio Spurs in 2013, though that series is better remembered for Game 6 drama than the final outcome. Historically, several dynasties closed out championship rounds without losing a game—a testament to dominance that the 2025-26 Knicks are still far from achieving.

Sweep history

Notable sweeps include the 1976 Boston Celtics over the Phoenix Suns (though that series went to three overtimes in Game 5), and more recently the Golden State Warriors’ 2018 Finals sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 1959 Minneapolis Lakers also swept the St. Louis Hawks en route to their championship run. These sweeps typically occur when one roster vastly outmatches the other—a scenario that does not fit the current Knicks-Celtics dynamic, where four games produced three competitive outcomes.

Relevance to current playoffs

Neither the Knicks nor the Celtics entered the 2025-26 postseason as heavy championship favorites. Their 4-1 head-to-head split across five games (including playoffs) suggested balanced competition rather than dominance. For the Knicks to achieve a Finals sweep, they’d need to reach that stage against a considerably weaker opponent—a outcome that seems unlikely given the current competitive Western Conference and Eastern powerhouses like Milwaukee and Cleveland.

The implication: sweeps are rare, elite-level achievements. The Knicks’ 2025-26 season wins over Boston were impressive but far from the historical dominance required to close out an NBA Finals without a loss.

Knicks vs Celtics: Last 5 Games Results

Looking at the most recent stretch, the Knicks have controlled the rivalry. On October 24, 2025, New York beat Boston 105-95 at Madison Square Garden. The Celtics responded with their sole win of the season series, but the documented games tell a clear story: the Knicks’ defense and Brunson’s offensive output consistently gave Boston problems.

The head-to-head results table below shows how New York dominated the 2025-26 season series against Boston.

The pattern stands out: Knicks win when Brunson scores efficiently and when Hart contributes from three. Boston’s best games came when Tatum and Brown both scored above 24 points—but even those efforts yielded just one victory.

Knicks vs Celtics Player Stats Comparison

Individual performances illuminate why the Knicks held the edge. Jalen Brunson’s 31-point showing on February 8, 2026 demonstrated his ability to carry the offense against elite competition, per ESPN game recap. Josh Hart’s 26-point, 5-three performance on April 9 gave New York a secondary scorer who could shift games when defenses keyed on Brunson.

Boston’s Jayson Tatum posted a complete stat line on April 9—24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists—but the Celtics still lost. Jaylen Brown’s 26 points led the team, yet the supporting cast could not generate enough offense around their stars. The Knicks’ depth advantage showed in clutch moments: Hart’s shooting and Brunson’s playmaking gave New York options Boston could not match.

“Brunson’s 31 points power Knicks past Celtics, snapping Boston’s five-game winning streak.”

— AP, via ESPN game recap

“SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (212.5).” — SportsLine prediction analysis, via CBS Sports betting preview

For bettors and analysts, the takeaway is clear: Brunson’s production is the single most reliable predictor of Knicks success against Boston. When he drops below 20 points, the Celtics have historically competed—but in 2025-26, that is simply not happening.

Related reading: Knicks vs 76ers Match Player Stats

The Knicks’ narrow 112-106 victory over the Celtics on April 9, 2026, showcased Brunson’s 25 points and 10 assists in the match player stats highlighting key performers.

Frequently asked questions