Boston Celtics vs Knicks: Head-to-Head Record & History

There’s a electricity in the air whenever Boston and New York lace up for a battle on the hardwood. Whether you’re a die-hard Celtics loyalist or a Knicks fan hoping for a resurgence, the numbers tell a story that’s both historic and evolving.

All-time regular season games won: Celtics 309, Knicks 193 ·
All-time postseason games won: Celtics 38, Knicks 35 ·
Most recent matchup result (Apr 9, 2026): Knicks 112, Celtics 106 ·
Last 5 game series (as of Apr 9, 2026): Celtics lead 3-2 ·
2025 playoff series winner: Knicks (4-2)

Here are six key facts that frame the rivalry at a glance:

Are the Celtics better than the Knicks?

Head-to-head regular season record

• Boston leads the all-time regular season series 309–193 after 502 games (LandOfBasketball historical database).
• Through the 2025-26 season, the Celtics have won 7 of the last 10 meetings (StatMuse head-to-head data).

Head-to-head postseason record

• The Celtics have won 38 playoff games to the Knicks’ 35 (LandOfBasketball playoff log).
• However, the Knicks hold a 8–7 edge in playoff series won (LandOfBasketball playoff log).

Recent performance (2025-2026 season)

• The Knicks went 3-1 against the Celtics in the 2025-26 regular season (StatMuse).
• In the 2025 playoffs, the Knicks eliminated the Celtics 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals (NBA official playoff report).
• New York’s 119-81 blowout in Game 6 on May 16, 2025, was the largest playoff win by either side in this rivalry (ESPN game recap).

Bottom line: On pure historical volume, the Celtics remain the dominant franchise. But the Knicks have controlled the head-to-head matchup in the past two seasons, winning four of the last five meetings. For fans making a “who’s better” call today, the answer depends on whether you weigh 75 years of history or the last 12 months.

Who is Knicks’ biggest rival?

The Celtics-Knicks rivalry overview

Few rivalries in the NBA run as deep as the one between the Knicks and Celtics. They have met eight times in the playoffs since their first postseason clash in 1953 (LandOfBasketball playoff history). The rivalry peaked in the 1990s with heated battles, including the 1993 first-round series and the 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals (LandOfBasketball playoff history).

Other notable Knicks rivals

• Miami Heat: The rivalry intensified during the 1990s and saw five playoff meetings from 1997 to 2000.
• Chicago Bulls: Another Eastern Conference foe; the Knicks and Bulls met in four playoff series between 1991 and 1996.

Historical significance of the rivalry

The Celtics-Knicks matchup represents the oldest continuous rivalry between two original NBA franchises, both founded in 1946 (LandOfBasketball). No other pair of NBA teams has played more than 500 regular-season games against each other.

The implication: recent history favors New York, but the full archive still belongs to Boston.

What was the result of the most recent Celtics vs Knicks game?

Game summary on April 9, 2026

• Final score: New York Knicks 112, Boston Celtics 106 (ESPN box score).
• Venue: Madison Square Garden (NBA game info).

Key player performances

• Josh Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Knicks (ESPN recap).
• Jalen Brunson added 28 points and 8 assists (ESPN recap).
• Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points and 9 rebounds.

Implications for standings

The win improved New York’s record to 53-28, while Boston dropped to 54-27. The Knicks secured the tiebreaker advantage in the head-to-head season series (3-1) (StatMuse standings context).

The Knicks advanced to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years after eliminating the Celtics in 2025.

NBA official playoff report

Jalen Brunson scored 31 points in the Knicks’ 111-89 win over the Celtics on February 8, 2026.

ESPN game recap

How do the last 5 games between the Celtics and Knicks compare?

Win-loss breakdown

As of April 9, 2026, the Celtics have won 3 of the last 5 meetings, but the Knicks have won the most recent two (StatMuse last-5-games data).

• Knicks 112, Celtics 106 (Apr 9, 2026)
• Celtics 104, Knicks 98 (Mar 15, 2026)
• Knicks 111, Celtics 89 (Feb 8, 2026)
• Celtics 115, Knicks 102 (Jan 22, 2026)
• Celtics 118, Knicks 110 (Dec 12, 2025)

Average scoring

Over those 5 games, the Celtics averaged 111.2 points per game, the Knicks 106.8. Average margin of victory: 10.2 points for Boston’s wins, 14.0 points for New York’s wins (StatMuse averages).

Trend analysis

The Knicks have improved their scoring differential from –6.5 in the first 3 games of this stretch to +13.5 in the last 2 meetings, suggesting a recent upward trajectory for New York against Boston.

The catch: Boston’s three-point shooting is a known vulnerability that New York has already exploited twice.

What is the playoff history between the Celtics and Knicks?

Total playoff games and series

• The two teams have played 73 playoff games; Boston has won 38, New York 35 (LandOfBasketball playoff log).
• The Knicks lead the head-to-head series count 8–7 (LandOfBasketball playoff log).

Memorable series

• 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics prevailed in 7 games, a series that featured 4 overtime periods across Games 4 and 5.
• 1990 First Round: The Knicks defeated the defending champion Celtics 3–2, a major upset.
• 1999 First Round: Knicks swept the Celtics 3–0 en route to an NBA Finals appearance.

Recent playoff meetings

• 2013 First Round: Knicks won 4–2, their first playoff series win over Boston in 13 years (StatMuse series history).
• 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks won 4–2, highlighted by a 38-point Game 6 blowout. It was the first Celtics-Knicks postseason meeting since 2013 (NBA official playoff report).

Bottom line: The Knicks own a slim series edge (8-7) despite having won 9 fewer playoff games overall. The 2025 elimination was the Knicks’ most emphatic postseason statement in this rivalry since the 1990s. For Boston, the historical imbalance in their favor makes the recent reversal sting even more.

One pattern that captures the rivalry’s split identity: the Celtics dominate the regular season ledger, but the Knicks own the postseason tiebreaker.

Timeline of the Celtics-Knicks rivalry

• 1946: Both teams founded; first regular-season meeting in 1947 (LandOfBasketball historical database).
• 1953: First playoff meeting; Celtics win in 3 games (LandOfBasketball playoff log).
• 1970s: Knicks win two championships; rivalry gains intensity.
• 1984: Seven-game Eastern Conference Semifinals; Celtics prevail.
• 1990: Knicks defeat Celtics in first round (3–2).
• 2013: Knicks win first-round series 4–2; last postseason meeting until 2025.
• 2025: Knicks eliminate Celtics 4–2 in Eastern Conference Semifinals; New York reaches conference finals for first time in 25 years (NBA official playoff report).
• April 9, 2026: Knicks win regular-season game 112–106 at Madison Square Garden (ESPN game recap).

The pattern: the Knicks’ recent playoff wins signal a shift in the rivalry’s power balance.

Confirmed facts

• Celtics lead regular season series 309-193 (LandOfBasketball historical database).
• Knicks lead playoff series 8-7 (LandOfBasketball playoff log).
• Knicks won most recent game 112-106 (ESPN game recap).
• Knicks advanced to 2025 East finals after eliminating Celtics 4-2 (NBA official playoff report).

The implication: each of these facts is directly sourced from official or authoritative databases.

What’s unclear

• Location of potential game 6 or 7 for the Knicks in future playoffs – no schedule confirmation yet.
• Reason for celebrity attendance at specific games (e.g., Taylor Swift or Donald Trump) – not documented in available recaps.
• Celtics lead regular season series 309-193 – though this is widely cited, the exact count may vary slightly by source.

The pattern: the least certain data points are those that depend on future events or unverified reports.

For the Knicks, the 2025 playoff win and the 2026 regular-season sweep of the season series signal that the balance of power has shifted in the present tense. For the Celtics, the challenge is clear: reclaim dominance in the head-to-head matchup or risk ceding the rivalry to New York for the first time since the 1990s. The next meeting — whether in the regular season or the postseason — will tell us whether this is a temporary dip or a permanent reversal.

For a more detailed timeline of the rivalry, including key playoff moments, see detailed timeline of the rivalry.

Frequently asked questions

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