Game Preview: Knicks vs. Celtics, Oct. 24, 2025

SB Nation

During the 2024-25 regular season, the Boston Celtics had the Knicks’ number. They swept all four matchups by an average score of 125-109 and set an NBA record with 29 threes in their opening-night blowout.

When they clashed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the script flipped. The Knicks stunned the defending champs in six games, overcoming huge holes in the first two tilts to seize control and finish the job with a 119-81 demolition at home.

The Celtics focused on a financial reset this offseason. After a 61-win season ended in a humiliating, devastating, and eviscerating loss to the Knicks, Brad Stevens shed roughly $50 million in salary—trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, losing Al Horford, and bringing in Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, and a batch of young bucks. The idea is to stay competitive this season while ducking the second apron and bracing for life without Jayson Tatum, who is expected to miss the entire season with an Achilles tear.

Jaylen Brown now carries the load beside Derrick White and newcomer Simons in an offense that will lean even harder on threes and pace. Pundits project around 40 wins and a play-in spot for the Beantown Bums, and Brown’s leadership and Joe Mazulla’s vacant-stare coaching will determine whether Boston can stay afloat until Tatum’s 2026 return.

The Celtics (0-1) opened the 2025-26 season with a 117-116 home loss to the 76ers. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White led the way with 25 points apiece, while Neemias Queta impressed with 17 points and eight boards in his first start. Payton Pritchard added 16, but Boston couldn’t contain Tyrese Maxey’s 40-point explosion or rookie VJ Edgecombe’s 34-point debut.

Tonight, expect Gang Green to start White, Pritchard, Brown, Sam Hauser, and Queta.

The Knicks ignited their 2025-26 season with an impressive 119-111 win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Hard to believe, but that was their first opening-night victory since 2021. In Mike Brown’s coming-out party, New York’s faster pace and determined defense set the tone early, resulting in a 17-point first-half lead. Led by Donovan Mitchell’s 20-some third quarter, Cleveland clawed their way back to start the fourth quarter with a lead, but OG Anunoby and Deuce McBride led the resistance and secured the win.

According to the injury report I saw, Mitchell Robinson will remain OUT tonight with an ongoing ankle issue. Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby (who had a monster opening night against the Cavs) are both day-to-day. The former is dealing with a quad strain, the latter a sprained ankle. Josh Hart is listed as questionable due to back spasms.

Tonight’s game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, part of the NBA’s new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. Beginning this season, Amazon will air 66 regular-season games annually. The move marks the NBA’s strongest shift yet toward streaming, targeting cord-cutters and younger viewers.

Prediction

ESPN.com heavily favors NY in this one at 63%. As they should. The Knicks looked sharp in Mike Brown’s debut, and their blend of tempo, defense, and depth (11 players played!) was refreshing. The Celtics have talent in their starting five, and they demonstrated their toughness in Wednesday’s narrow loss to Philly, but they lack New York’s bench strength. Expect an up-tempo, high-intensity matchup until Boston runs out of gas. Knicks by eight.