Today marks the New York Knicks’ first game since clinching a playoff spot and boy does it have the potential to be an important yet weird one. Heading into tonight’s matchup against the first-place 62-17 Boston Celtics, the Knicks find themselves with sole possession of third place in the eastern conference, sitting half a game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers and a game ahead of the Orlando Magic. A win tonight would help distance the Knicks from those two teams, both of whom are off tonight, but a loss would significantly hurt their chances of catching up to the second-place Milwaukee Bucks, who currently are 1.5 games ahead of them.
Now, beating this Celtics team, who have pretty much been the undisputed best team in the league wire-to-wire, is no easy task. They rank first in offensive rating, second in defensive rating, and rank first in net rating by a mile. And it doesn’t help that the Knicks are 0-3 against them this season. But, it’s important to note that all three of those games came under very different circumstances and tonight’s game should be nothing like the previous ones for multiple reasons.
When these two teams last met in February, OG Anunoby, who has clearly been a significant difference-maker on both sides of the ball for the Knicks, was still out recovering from his elbow surgery. And partly because of said injury, that game featured Precious Achiuwa playing 34 minutes as a starter, and Alec Burks playing 19 minutes off the bench. Now, with Anunoby back in the fold, both Achiuwa and Burks have been cut out of the rotation as of late.
But the differences aren’t just on New York’s end. Boston listed Jrue Holiday (patella), Jaylen Brown (hand), Jayson Tatum (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (hamstring), Al Horford (toe), and Xavier Tillman (knee) as questionable yesterday. There’s still a chance that all, or at least some, of them play but given that they clinched the number one seed a while ago, it’s plausible that they all sit out against the Knicks and their physical defense in preparation for what they are determined to make a very deep playoff run.
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Prediction
As stated above, it’s pretty safe to assume that the majority of the Celtics’ core rotation will sit this one out. But the Knicks, with the way they have been playing as of late, have the ability to beat the Celtics regardless of who plays and who doesn’t. That doesn’t mean that the Knicks can or will beat the Celtics in a seven-game playoff series, but with the circumstances and impact of the game being what it is for both teams, the Knicks, who have much more to play for should have the upper hand. Knicks win 110-100 with Brunson, who is averaging 34.8PPG and 7.4APG over his last 14 games, continuing his hot streak.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (47-32) at Boston Celtics (62-17)
“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in Boston and across Massachusetts on Saturday and are expected to draw large crowds, organizers said.
Organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition, and Mass 50501, the event is a mass mobilization in protest of the Trump administration.
The No Kings theme was created by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The Trump administration is trying to shred the Constitution; the No Kings movement is an unequivocal statement that we, the people, will not let that happen. This will be the third global No Kings Day, and it’s not just about protesting what’s wrong—it’s about building something better. We intend to show our power, build our power, and power a democracy that advances freedom, equality, justice, and dignity for all,” organizers wrote.
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The rally, one of thousands scheduled across the country this weekend, is planned for the Boston Common from 2 to 4 p.m. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Boston’s rally. Other events are scheduled in Pittsfield, Northampton, Lancaster, Worcester, Framingham, Methuen, Lexington, and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape. For a map of No Kings events near you, click here.
Speakers include elected officials Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and civic leaders Hessann Farooqi Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Darlene Lombos, president of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, and others. It will be moderated by Rahsaan Hall, president and CEO of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
There will also be performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians, BVOCAL Chorus, and Jimmy Tingle.
A previous No Kings rally in October drew massive crowds estimated in the tens of thousands.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
An aerial view of the crowd at Boston’s “No Kings” rally on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
ALLSTON, MASS. (WHDH) – Boston police are searching for a gunman who opened fire in Allston Thursday and left one person hurt.
Police responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of Brighton Avenue at approximately 6:46 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found a male “juvenile” suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim’s age has not been released.
Boston police said the shooter fled the scene and remains at large. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston police.
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This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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