Celtics–Knicks rivalry
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
First meetingDecember 7, 1946
Knicks 90, Celtics 65
Latest meetingOctober 25, 2023
Knicks 98, Celtics 114
Next meetingFebruary 24, 2024
Statistics
Meetings total558
All-time series338–220 (BOS)
Regular season series302–189 (BOS)
Postseason results36–31 (BOS)
Longest win streakBOS W21
NYK W21
Current win streakBOS W2
Postseason history

The Celtics–Knicks rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The Celtics and Knicks are two of only three remaining charter franchises (the other being the Golden State Warriors) from the Basketball Association of America, which began operations in 1946.[1]

The Celtics and Knicks were both established in 1946 as charter franchises of the Basketball Association of America, and are the two oldest teams still playing in their original city today.

History

1950s

The first playoff meeting was in the Division Semifinals of the 1950–51 season. This was the first round of the playoffs and a best-of-three series. The Knicks swept the Celtics and got to the NBA Finals, but lost to the Rochester Royals. The clubs squared off in the Division Semifinals once again in the following season. This time, the Celtics were able to win Game 1 at home, before the Knicks tied the series at home at 1. Game 3 was a tough, double overtime showdown in Boston, but the Knicks won 88–87. Once again, Knicks went to the finals and lost to the Lakers. In the 1952–53 season, the teams met in the Division Finals, a best-of-five series. The Knicks won Game 1, the Celtics won Game 2, each at home. The Knicks won Games 3 and 4 to win the series but lost to the Lakers in the Finals once again. Despite 3 Conference Championships with the help of future Hall of Famers Dick McGuire and Harry Gallatin, the Knicks never won an NBA title in the 1950s. For the 1953–54 season, the teams played in a round-robin format along with the Syracuse Nationals. This meant the 3 teams each played each other twice, and the one with the lowest winning % is eliminated. Syracuse went 4–0, Boston went 2–2, and New York went 0–4. Syracuse eliminated Boston in the following round. In the 1954–55 season, teams played each other in the Division Semifinals. The Celtics won Game 1 in Boston, the Knicks won Game 2 in New York, and the Celtics wrapped it up with a win in Game 3 but lost to the Nationals in the next round. It was the last playoff meeting until 1967. For the rest of the decade, the Knicks never advanced past the first round, while Boston won titles in the 1956–57, 1958–59, and 1959–60 seasons.

1960s

The Celtics major success continued into the 1960s as they were champions every season from 1959 to 1966. They were led by Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, Frank Ramsey, Bill Russell, Satch Sanders, Tom Heinsohn, and K.C. Jones who all either had their number retired, or were inducted to the Hall of Fame. The Knicks' struggles continued by not qualifying for the playoffs from 1960 to 1966. When the Knicks finally made it back to the playoffs in the 1966–67 season, they met the Celtics in the Division Semifinals. The Celtics won the first two, but the Knicks fought back to win Game 3. The Celtics ended the series with a win in New York, but did not win an NBA title that season as they were defeated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the next round. Boston won another title in 1968. In the 1968–69 season, the teams squared off in the Division Finals. Boston won the first two, but the Knicks won Game 3. Boston won Game 4 by one, then the Knicks won Game 5, but the Celtics won the series with another 1 point win en route to winning another NBA title.

1970s

In the 1971–72 season, the two teams met in the Conference Finals. The Knicks won the first two games, the Celtics won game 3, but the Knicks eliminated them with wins in Games 4 and 5. The Knicks went to the finals again but lost to the Lakers. In the 1972–73 season, the Knicks picked up Earl Monroe, who helped them go on another championship run. They beat Earl's old team, the Baltimore Bullets in round one, and met the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston won Game 1 at home, but the Knicks won the next three (Game 4 in 2OT). Boston fought back to tie the series at 3, but the Knicks routed them in Game 7 and went on to win their second NBA title. The teams met in the Conference Finals for the 3rd year in a row in the 1973–74 season. Boston won the series 4–1 and would go on to win their 12th NBA title. The Knicks era of greatness ended with the retirements of Reed and Frazier, and they went back to their old, familiar struggles. In the 1975–76 season, Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and the Celtics won another title.

1980s

The Knicks had minimal playoff success in the early to mid 1980s, despite Bernard King's great seasons in that time. In contrast, Larry Bird led Boston to titles in the 1980–81, 1983–84, and 1985–86 seasons. In 1984, they met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was a hotly contested series that ended with a Boston win at home in Game 7 (the home team won every game) en route to the Celtics' title victory over the Lakers. In the 1987–88 season, they met in the first round of the playoffs. Boston won the first two at home, but the Knicks won Game 3, but Boston won Game 4 and the series. They made it to the Conference Finals but got eliminated by the Detroit Pistons.

1990s

The Celtics and Knicks met again in the first round of the 1990 NBA playoffs, which the Knicks won 3–2. The two teams would not meet in the playoffs again until 2011. The 1991–92 season was the last season that the Celtics would reach the second round in the 1990s, while the Knicks made it to the second round or farther every year from 1992 to 2000. Under the leadership of Patrick Ewing and Anthony Mason, the Knicks experienced plenty of success including Eastern Conference titles in 1994 and 1999. However, they failed to win an NBA title. During this time, the Knicks' rivals included the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, as well as the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers, all of whom faced the Knicks in multiple memorable playoff series during this time. After the 1999–2000 season, Ewing was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. The Knicks descended into irrelevance and did not win a playoff series again until 2013.

2000s

The Knicks had a major collapse after the end of the Ewing era as they did not win a single playoff game from 2001 to 2012. The Celtics went into a new era under the leadership of Paul Pierce, who became team captain in 2003 and brought them back to the playoffs. In 2006, they drafted Rajon Rondo and in 2007, they acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, which formed their "big three." The trio helped the Celtics win their 17th NBA title in the 2007–08 season.

2010–present

In the summer of 2010, the New York Knicks signed Amar'e Stoudemire, formerly of the Phoenix Suns, who subsequently began rebuilding the team. Stoudemire averaged over 27 PPG in the 2010–11 season to help the Knicks clinch their first winning season since 2001. On February 21, 2011, the Knicks engaged in a high-profile trade with the Denver Nuggets to acquire superstar Carmelo Anthony. Those moves helped secure the Knicks' first playoff berth since 2004, where they were immediately swept by the Celtics. However, the Celtics would lose to the Miami Heat.

The 2012–13 season saw the Knicks flourish under the leadership of Anthony and offseason acquisition Tyson Chandler. Anthony won the 2013 scoring title and helped them win the Atlantic Division for the first time since 1994. On January 7, 2013, the two teams played in New York. With nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, a fight broke out on the court, triggered by animosity between Anthony and Boston's Kevin Garnett. After the fight was broken up, words continued to be exchanged, and after the game Carmelo attempted to go after Garnett in the locker rooms. This led to Carmelo being suspended for one game. Carmelo served his suspension on January 10 when the Knicks faced the Pacers. A rep for the league released a statement, saying, "There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable to confront an opponent after a game."[2][3] Both teams met again in the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs. The Celtics, who had lost Rajon Rondo to a mid-season injury, led the first two games going into halftime but were held to 25 and 23 points respectively in the second half to fall to 0–2. With the series shifting to Boston, the Knicks won Game 3, but Boston avoided elimination by winning Game 4 in Boston and Game 5 in New York. Game 6, played in Boston, featured the Knicks leading by 26 in the fourth quarter. The Celtics went on a 20–0 run in less than five minutes to make it a close game, but the Knicks held on to win their first playoff series since 2000. In the next round, the Knicks were beaten by the Indiana Pacers in 6 games.

Head to head

Season at New York Knicks
Celtics–Knicks		 at Boston Celtics
Knicks–Celtics		 Neutral site
Knicks–Celtics		 Total Notes
1946–47 44–62, 58–45, 52–46 90–65, 62–66, 48–49 N.A. Celtics 4–2
1947–48 65–63, 58–70, 64–66, 68–80 91–75, 79–75, 74–58, 68–57 Knicks 7–1
1948–49 64–81, 87–77, 61–66 75–77, 69–67, 56–70 Tie 3–3
1949–50 84–96, 80–82, 84–88 78–97, 81–72, 98–96 Knicks 5–1
1950–51 89–83, 60–77, 75–76 90–93, 90–100, 85–87, 84–78 86–80 Tie 4–4 Knicks lose 1951 NBA Finals
78–92 83–69 N.A. Knicks 2–0 Eastern Division Semifinals
1951–52 70–68, 86–87, 83–91, 86–105 93–92, 94–103, 90–100, 95–100, 89–87 N.A. Knicks 5–4 Knicks lose 1952 NBA Finals
97–101 94–105, 88–87 Knicks 2–1 Eastern Division Semifinals
1952–53 68–79, 84–97, 69–76, 89–78 100–103, 83–99, 79–87, 83–87 112–89, 66–69 Celtics 6–4 Knicks lose 1953 NBA Finals
91–95, 82–101 70–86, 82–75 N.A. Knicks 3–1 Eastern Division Finals
1953–54 113–108, 95–74, 85–87, 71–86 84–96, 87–84, 87–78, 89–103 103–92, 81–84 Tie 5–5
93–71 78–79 N.A. Celtics 2–0 Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals
1954–55 117–98, 81–93, 83–88, 107–115, 95–114 103–108, 96–113, 98–102, 105–103, 101–112 100–116, 97–95 Tie 6–6
95–102, 116–109 101–122 N.A. Celtics 2–1 Eastern Division Semifinals
1955–56 95–96, 95–92, 92–87, 102–113, 99–119 115–111, 100–102, 109–104, 104–114, 108–116 107–97, 103–86 Knicks 7–5
1956–57 115–112, 99–110, 102–113, 114–111, 112–110 113–107, 78–114, 98–116, 85–97, 91–122 92–90, 122–121 Celtics 7–5 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
Celtics win 1957 NBA Finals
1957–58 131–121, 103–106, 121–114, 113–111, 99–104 107–120, 110–120, 104–125, 119–126, 127–125 97–80, 136–123 Celtics 7–5 Celtics lose 1958 NBA Finals
1958–59 125–127, 109–90, 129–120, 124–116, 122–134 109–121, 106–135, 112–123, 129–126, 138–116 112–106, 78–109 Celtics 7–5 Celtics win 1959 NBA Finals
1959–60 123–109, 128–127, 121–105, 123–119, 143–117, 129–125 107–122, 116–119, 126–144, 142–135, 128–148 126–137, 104–109 Celtics 12–1 Celtics win 1960 NBA Finals
1960–61 110–101, 111–110, 115–117, 120–106, 125–112, 142–116 105–122, 124–142, 109–123, 129–107, 110–113 116–111, 120–124 Celtics 10–3 Celtics win 1961 NBA Finals
1961–62 104–100, 117–109, 100–110, 121–129, 112–125, 106–113 102–132, 96–116, 111–122, 114–130 103–122, 104–127 Celtics 8–4 Celtics win 1962 NBA Finals
1962–63 133–108, 116–102, 87–95, 124–100, 129–97, 102–95 116–149, 120–106, 110–123, 123–129, 117–122 98–117 Celtics 10–2 Celtics win 1963 NBA Finals
1963–64 126–98, 132–113, 117–127, 127–133, 135–114, 114–102 116–133, 111–133, 102–115, 112–133, 121–127 140–143 Celtics 10–2 Celtics win 1964 NBA Finals
1964–65 131–103, 117–113, 97–90, 113–123, 114–119 91–116, 95–123, 92–94 120–127, 113–112 Celtics 7–3 Celtics win 1965 NBA Finals
1965–66 122–108, 99–96, 119–107, 100–95, 126–113 110–125, 120–123, 115–118, 117–121, 104–140 N.A. Celtics 10–0 Celtics win 1966 NBA Finals
1966–67 126–97, 120–109, 114–112, 143–114, 140–123 106–111, 106–141, 117–122, 113–124 Celtics 9–0
115–108, 118–109 110–140, 123–112 Celtics 3–1 Eastern Division Semifinals
1967–68 105–110, 134–124, 112–108, 113–91 113–115, 114–120, 110–108, 91–103 Celtics 6–2 Knicks' final season at Madison Square Garden III
Knicks' first season at Madison Square Garden IV
Celtics win 1968 NBA Finals
1968–69 100–111, 82–109, 96–115 117–131, 104–98, 95–94, 92–88 Knicks 6–1 Celtics win 1969 NBA Finals
108–100, 91–101, 104–112 97–112, 96–97, 105–106 Celtics 4–2 Eastern Division Finals
1969–70 98–113, 111–104, 100–133, 125–118 102–109, 102–96, 112–115 Celtics 4–3 Knicks achieve franchise-record 60 wins
Knicks win 1970 NBA Finals
1970–71 107–114, 107–128, 104–112 126–89, 118–111, 116–110 Knicks 6–0
1971–72 101–106, 105–97, 106–109 104–89, 116–122, 109–112 Tie 3–3 Knicks lose 1972 NBA Finals
105–106, 98–116 116–94, 109–115, 111–103 Knicks 4–1 Eastern Conference Finals
1972–73 94–97, 108–111, 91–123, 108–103 97–114, 106–115, 96–93, 107–122 Tie 4–4 Celtics achieve franchise-record 68 wins
Knicks win 1973 NBA Finals
96–129, 110–117, 110–100 108–134, 98–91, 97–98, 94–78 Knicks 4–3 Eastern Conference Finals
1973–74 94–84, 83–104, 104–88 101–113, 97–119, 97–125, 108–102 Celtics 5–2 Celtics win 1974 NBA Finals
111–99, 98–91 88–113, 103–100, 94–105 Celtics 4–1 Eastern Conference Finals
1974–75 86–97, 109–91, 128–102, 126–111, 90–81 96–86, 88–105, 103–121, 86–96 Celtics 7–2
1975–76 103–100, 106–98, 103–105 101–110, 112–120, 97–89, 94–100 Celtics 5–2 Celtics win 1976 NBA Finals
1976–77 123–109, 113–121 123–109, 111–119 Tie 2–2
1977–78 119–122, 91–99 119–121, 94–112 Tie 2–2
1978–79 98–111, 106–102 98–109, 102–107 Celtics 3–1 Only season between 1946–47 and 2005–06 in which neither team qualified for the playoffs
1979–80 109–113, 99–96, 123–120 97–100, 95–112, 121–129 Celtics 5–1
1980–81 117–108, 93–89, 118–116 109–107, 106–120, 94–115 Celtics 5–1 Celtics win 1981 NBA Finals
1981–82 83–103, 111–107, 110–106 99–131, 106–107, 99–119 Celtics 5–1
1982–83 97–83, 105–113, 98–105 96–106, 122–110, 98–102 Tie 3–3
1983–84 113–117, 102–100, 108–100 110–103, 102–98, 96–102 Tie 3–3 Celtics win 1984 NBA Finals
92–100, 113–118, 104–106 92–110, 102–116, 99–121, 104–121 Celtics 4–3 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1984–85 126–108, 108–97, 110–102 99–115, 94–105, 102–114 Celtics 6–0 Celtics lose 1985 NBA Finals
1985–86 113–104, 104–113, 91–74 88–94, 108–115, 98–119 Celtics 5–1 Celtics win 1986 NBA Finals
1986–87 107–96, 109–111, 120–128 90–101, 104–113, 107–119 Celtics 4–2 Celtics lose 1987 NBA Finals
1987–88 96–87, 98–106, 118–106 109–111, 108–117, 93–95 Celtics 5–1
100–109, 102–94 92–112, 102–128 Celtics 3–1 Eastern Conference First Round
1988–89 107–109, 110–122, 117–137 115–122, 104–117, 111–115 Tie 3–3
1989–90 92–124, 115–110 98–113, 91–97, 94–101 Celtics 4–1
99–102, 108–135 105–116, 128–157, 121–114 Knicks 3–2 Eastern Conference First Round
1990–91 106–103, 101–87, 117–101 86–113, 102–115 Celtics 5–0
1991–92 101–111, 96–100 92–103, 95–99, 89–93 Celtics 3–2
1992–93 80–85, 100–97, 88–110 113–87, 102–90 Knicks 4–1 Knicks achieve franchise-record 60 wins
1993–94 79–114, 91–105 111–108, 90–83 Knicks 4–0 Knicks lose 1994 NBA Finals
1994–95 90–104, 110–115 120–107, 108–100, 99–92 Knicks 5–0 Celtics' final season at Boston Garden
1995–96 93–98, 93–97 105–92, 122–111 Knicks 4–0 Celtics' first season at TD Garden
1996–97 99–112, 107–109 111–98, 113–102 Knicks 4–0 Celtics lose franchise-record 67 games
1997–98 70–102, 82–98 85–94, 92–102 Tie 2–2
1998–99 78–96, 88–95 80–94 Knicks 2–1 Season shortened to 50 games due to lockout
Knicks lose 1999 NBA Finals
1999–00 97–99, 88–96 74–80, 85–112 Tie 2–2
2000–01 92–86, 88–95 103–101, 100–91 Knicks 3–1
2001–02 102–93, 90–81 100–101, 92–107 Celtics 4–0
2002–03 117–107, 113–90 80–91, 95–97 Celtics 4–0
2003–04 86–89, 87–84 94–88, 92–74 Knicks 3–1
2004–05 107–73, 82–107 109–114, 94–111 Celtics 3–1
2005–06 102–99, 123–98 100–114, 101–86 Celtics 3–1
2006–07 122–118, 97–90 101–77, 94–102 Celtics 3–1
2007–08 109–93, 99–93 59–104, 103–111 Celtics 4–0 Celtics win 2008 NBA Finals
2008–09 88–100, 110–100 101–110, 105–124 Celtics 3–1
2009–10 107–105, 101–104 106–110, 97–109 Celtics 3–1 Celtics lose 2010 NBA Finals
2010–11 118–116, 96–86 101–105, 102–112 Celtics 4–0
113–96, 101–89 85–87, 93–96 Celtics 4–0 Eastern Conference First Round
2011–12 104–106, 110–118 89–91, 111–115 Tie 2–2 Season shortened to 66 games due to lockout
2012–13 102–96, 89–108 89–86, 100–85 Knicks 3–1
78–85, 71–87, 92–86 90–76, 90–97, 88–80 Knicks 4–2 Eastern Conference First Round
2013–14 114–73, 88–114 86–90, 116–92 Tie 2–2
2014–15 108–97, 96–92 101–95, 94–115 Celtics 3–1 Knicks lose franchise-record 65 games
Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2015–16 114–120, 97–89 91–100, 104–105 Celtics 3–1
2016–17 119–114, 110–94 87–115, 117–106 Celtics 3–1
2017–18 93–102, 121–112 89–110, 73–103 Celtics 3–1
2018–19 103–101, 113–99 117–109, 100–128 Celtics 3–1 Knicks lose franchise-record 65 games
2019–20 118–95, 113–104 102–104 Celtics 3–0 Season suspended from March 11 to July 30 due to the COVID–19 pandemic
Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
Knicks only played 66 games in the regular season
2020–21 92–96 105–75, 99–101 Knicks 2–1 Season shortened to 72 games
2021–22 134–138 (2OT), 105–108 107–114, 75–99 Tie 2–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
Celtics lose 2022 NBA Finals
2022–23 133–118, 94–109 120–117 (OT), 131–129 (2OT) Knicks 3–1
2023–24 108–104, February 24 98–114, April 11 Celtics 2–0

Statistics

New York Knicks Boston Celtics
Total wins 212 323
At New York Knicks 123 132
At Boston Celtics 75 179
Neutral site 13 12
Regular season wins 180 287
At New York Knicks 104 120
At Boston Celtics 63 155
Neutral site 13 12
Playoff wins 31 36
At New York Knicks 19 12
At Boston Celtics 12 24

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ryan, Bob (December 15, 2010). "Another link in the chain". Boston Globe. p. C1. The Knicks...take on the Boston Celtics—a rival in one form or another for the entirety of the league's existence.
  2. ↑ "Carmelo Anthony SUSPENDED for Post-Game Clash with Kevin Garnett". TMZ.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  3. ↑ NBA Lead Writer (2013-05-02). "Postgame Fight Shows How Much Boston Celtics, NY Knicks Hate Each Other". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
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