A 4th quarter surge gave the Celtics some breathing room, as they went on to win 122-90, despite leading by just 5 points with a little over 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter. From 8:57 to 1:27, they went on a 27-4 run to secure the win.

The Boston Celtics face the New York Knicks on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 (10/24/25) in a regular season NBA game at Madison Square Garden.

Perhaps the most difficult test will be the Rockets, whose shortest starter is a 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson. They have four starters who are 6-foot-11 or taller, including Kevin Durant at shooting guard. It is expected to be a major mismatch for the Celtics, who have only two players on their current active NBA roster standing 6-foot-11 or taller.

The Boston Celtics let a winnable game slip away to the Philadelphia 76ers on opening night. The Celtics' defense and late-game execution both disappeared in crunch time at TD Garden, a sign the team has a lot to sort out as they embark on a season of the unknown.

The New York Knicks have started the 2025-26 season under the new head coach in style. After winning 119-111 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, two of the Eastern Conference heavyweights face off on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.