Celtics Look to Clinch No. 2 Seed in Matchup with Knicks

Boston faces New York in potential playoff preview at Madison Square Garden

Apr. 9, 2026 at 7:51pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in progress, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant colors.The high-stakes matchup between the Celtics and Knicks is rendered in a cubist style, reflecting the strategic complexity and competitive intensity of the game.NYC Today

The Boston Celtics have a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over the New York Knicks on Thursday night. This could be the final meaningful regular season game for the Celtics, who will be without Jaylen Brown but may get Derrick White and Neemias Queta back from injury.

Why it matters

The Celtics and Knicks are battling for playoff positioning, with the winner of this game likely securing the No. 2 seed in the East. This matchup could also be a potential first-round playoff preview, adding extra significance to the outcome.

The details

The Celtics and Knicks have split their first three meetings this season, with each team winning at home. Boston will be looking to avenge their 111-89 loss to New York at TD Garden in February. Jayson Tatum will be playing his first game at Madison Square Garden since suffering an Achilles injury there in last year's playoffs.

  • The game tips off at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  • This is the fourth and final regular season matchup between the Celtics and Knicks.

The players

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward is looking to lead his team to the No. 2 seed and avenge his playoff injury at Madison Square Garden.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' leading scorer has had success against the Celtics this season, averaging 31 points in the two New York wins.

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What’s next

If the Celtics win, they will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. If they lose, they will need to win at least one of their final two games to remain the two seed.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Celtics and Knicks has major playoff implications, with the winner likely securing the No. 2 seed in the East. It also serves as a potential first-round preview, adding extra intrigue to the game. Boston will be looking to avenge their earlier loss to New York and secure a favorable playoff position.