Knicks Strike Early as Celtics Look to Counter in Atlantic Showdown
So tonight’s Knicks–Celtics matchup has really taken on that classic, old-school Atlantic Division energy, and you could feel it from the opening minutes. The Knicks came out absolutely firing, racing ahead to a 19–6 lead before Boston even had a chance to settle in. What made that opening punch so impressive was how balanced it was — Karl-Anthony Towns hit early, Josh Hart knocked down a shot, Jalen Brunson got on the board, and even Deuce McBride stepped in and drilled a clean three. It felt like one of those starts where everything was flowing, the ball was hopping around, and Boston suddenly found itself needing to regroup.
Now, the Celtics aren’t anywhere close to full strength without Jayson Tatum, but they’ve been proving lately that they don’t necessarily need him to stay dangerous. Their last game was a perfect example — Payton Pritchard exploded for 42 points to drag them past Cleveland. Because of stretches like that, Boston can never really be counted out, no matter how rough the opening looks. You could see them trying to steady the pace, chip away at the deficit, and slow down New York’s rhythm before the first quarter ended.
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For the Knicks, momentum has been everything lately. They entered the night riding a four-game winning streak, and Brunson’s been playing with that calm, controlled fire he brings when he’s locked in. He’s been averaging close to 29 points during this stretch, and whenever the offense needs a reset, it’s usually Brunson who steps up and slows the game down in all the right ways. There’s also been some good news for New York, with OG Anunoby cleared to resume on-court work. Even if he isn’t back yet, knowing help is on the way gives the team a lift.
Boston, meanwhile, has rediscovered a little of that championship DNA they’ve been hinting at all year. After a bit of a wobble that dropped them below .500 in November, they’ve been trending back upward, winning six of their last eight games. What they’re showing now is a real mix of resilience and unpredictability — on any given night, someone unexpected might carry the load.
So with all that baked into this matchup, the early Knicks blitz didn’t just feel like a hot start — it felt like a challenge thrown down in a rivalry that already carries decades of history. And as Boston began clawing back, you could sense the tone shifting toward the kind of tense, back-and-forth battle fans were hoping for.
If the opening minutes were any indication, this one was set up to be one of those games where momentum swings, role players matter, and every possession feels like it could tilt the energy of the night.
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