The Knicks geared up to stop the Celtics, though they've fallen short to the reigning champs consistently this season.

The Celtics can also feel good about a potential second round showdown with New York given the team’s history over the past two years. Not only will Boston have homecourt if the current standings hold but they have also won seven of the last eight head-to-head matchups between the two teams dating back to the start of the 2023-24 season.