The next Celtics vs Knicks game is scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The matchup opens the regular-season series between Boston and New York for 2026-27. The Knicks enter as the defending NBA champions, while the Celtics are beginning a new era around Jayson Tatum after major offseason roster changes.
Key Takeaways
- The next Celtics vs Knicks game is October 23, 2026, at TD Garden.
- The Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions after beating San Antonio 4-1 in the Finals.
- Boston finished 56-26 in 2025-26 but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
- The Knicks won the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinal series against Boston, 4-2.
- Boston’s 2026-27 roster includes Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, and former Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.
Celtics vs Knicks: Next Game
The next meeting between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks is set for Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Boston will host the game at TD Garden. The NBA schedule lists the matchup as one of the early marquee games of the new season.
This game has an unusual amount of recent history behind it. New York comes into the 2026-27 season as the reigning NBA champion, while Boston is trying to build a new identity after significant roster changes.
For U.S. viewers, the game is scheduled for Prime Video according to the published 2026-27 schedule information.
Celtics vs Knicks Recent Results
The two teams played four regular-season games during 2025-26:
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Oct. 24, 2025 | Knicks 105, Celtics 95 |
| Dec. 2, 2025 | Celtics 123, Knicks 117 |
| Feb. 8, 2026 | Knicks 111, Celtics 89 |
| Apr. 9, 2026 | Knicks 112, Celtics 106 |
That gives New York a 3-1 regular-season edge in their four meetings during 2025-26. The game log also shows how the matchup changed from game to game, with Boston winning the December meeting while New York won the other three.
The most recent meeting came on April 9, 2026, when the Knicks defeated the Celtics 112-106 at Madison Square Garden.
2025-26 Regular-Season Meetings
The regular-season results are particularly useful when looking at the current rivalry because both teams changed significantly afterward.
New York’s 2025-26 season ultimately ended with the franchise winning its first NBA championship since 1973. Boston, meanwhile, finished the regular season 56-26 and entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
2025 Playoff Series
The Celtics and Knicks met in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals, creating one of the most memorable recent chapters of the rivalry.
New York won the series 4-2. The Knicks took the first two games in Boston, lost Game 3, and then won Games 4 and 6 to close out the series. Boston won Game 5, but New York responded with a 119-81 victory in Game 6.
The six-game series produced these results:
| Game | Result |
|---|---|
| Game 1 | Knicks 108, Celtics 105 OT |
| Game 2 | Knicks 91, Celtics 90 |
| Game 3 | Celtics 115, Knicks 93 |
| Game 4 | Knicks 121, Celtics 113 |
| Game 5 | Celtics 127, Knicks 102 |
| Game 6 | Knicks 119, Celtics 81 |
That series remains important because it helped establish the recent competitive tension between the two teams.
Celtics vs Knicks Head-to-Head History
Boston and New York have been connected since the early years of professional basketball. They are both original franchises from the Basketball Association of America era and remain in the same Atlantic Division.
Their overall rivalry has produced hundreds of meetings. Available historical records show Boston holding the overall advantage, while the playoff matchup is much closer. Through the most recent completed playoff meeting, the Celtics have won 7 of 15 playoff series, compared with 8 for the Knicks.
Their playoff history includes meetings in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990, 2011, 2013, and 2025. The latest playoff series therefore continued a rivalry that has lasted for decades.
The rivalry also has a geographic element. Boston and New York are two major northeastern U.S. cities with long-standing sports rivalries across several leagues. In basketball, the Celtics and Knicks carry that history into the NBA’s Atlantic Division.
Key Players to Watch
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum remains the central player for Boston. The Celtics’ 2026-27 roster is built around Tatum after Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia during the offseason. NBA.com describes the roster as a new-look Celtics team with Tatum as the lone returning star from the former Tatum-Brown era.
Paul George is another major addition. Boston acquired the veteran forward from Philadelphia, giving the Celtics another experienced scorer and perimeter defender alongside Tatum.
Mitchell Robinson is also worth watching because he moved from New York to Boston during the offseason. That creates an interesting subplot whenever the Celtics face the Knicks.
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson continues to lead the Knicks’ backcourt. He averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists per game during the 2025-26 regular season, according to the Knicks’ official roster information.
Karl-Anthony Towns provides New York with size and scoring in the frontcourt. He averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game in 2025-26.
OG Anunoby remains another important two-way piece. His combination of size, perimeter defense, and scoring gives New York another option around Brunson and Towns.
Why Celtics vs Knicks Is a Major NBA Rivalry
Celtics vs Knicks has more than regular-season history behind it. Both franchises are among the NBA’s oldest, and both have remained in their original cities since the league’s early years.
The teams have also met repeatedly in the postseason. Their 2025 playoff series renewed a rivalry that had not produced a postseason matchup since 2013. New York’s 4-2 series victory added another chapter to a playoff history that stretches back to 1951.
The rivalry now has a fresh storyline because New York enters the 2026-27 season as defending champion while Boston has reshaped its roster.
What to Watch in the Next Matchup
Boston’s New-Look Roster
The biggest question surrounding Boston is how its new roster fits together.
The Celtics finished 2025-26 with a 56-26 record, but they were eliminated in the first round by Philadelphia. During the offseason, Boston added players including Paul George and Mitchell Robinson while moving on from Jaylen Brown.
That means the October matchup will not simply repeat the previous season’s version of the Celtics.
New York’s Championship Defense
The Knicks begin 2026-27 with a different type of pressure. They are the reigning NBA champions after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the 2026 Finals. Jalen Brunson won Finals MVP after averaging a major offensive workload throughout the championship run.
The Knicks have retained much of their championship core, although Mitchell Robinson left for Boston and Andre Drummond joined New York.
That makes the October 23 meeting especially interesting because it puts Boston’s reworked roster against the defending champion Knicks very early in the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next Celtics vs Knicks game?
The next scheduled Celtics vs Knicks game is Friday, October 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. It will be played at TD Garden in Boston.
Who won the 2025 Celtics vs Knicks playoff series?
The Knicks won the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinal series 4-2. New York won Games 1, 2, 4, and 6, while Boston won Games 3 and 5.
Where will the next Celtics vs Knicks game be played?
The October 23, 2026 matchup will be played at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, with the Celtics listed as the home team.
Who are the key players in Celtics vs Knicks?
For Boston, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, and Mitchell Robinson are among the important players to watch. For New York, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby are key pieces.
How close is the Celtics-Knicks playoff rivalry?
The playoff series history is close. The teams have met in 15 postseason series, with Boston winning seven and New York winning eight through their 2025 meeting.
Conclusion
The Celtics vs Knicks matchup enters the 2026-27 season with plenty of recent history behind it. New York won the 2025 playoff series between the teams and then went on to become the 2026 NBA champion. Boston, meanwhile, has rebuilt around Jayson Tatum after significant offseason changes.
Their next meeting is scheduled for October 23, 2026, at TD Garden, giving fans an early look at how the new-look Celtics match up with the defending champion Knicks.
I’m Zahid Abbas, an educator, researcher, and digital publishing strategist with a passion for linguistics, grammar, and clear communication. As a content creator and SEO specialist, I craft research-driven, reader-focused content that empowers learners and makes knowledge accessible worldwide.
