Celtics vs. Knicks: Boston hopes to make it three straight wins against Atlantic Division foes

On October 25, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics defeated the Knicks 108-104 to start the season.Gets/Elsa
It seems like the Celtics are back on track after a little setback.

Boston easily defeated two Atlantic Division opponents in a back-to-back homestand, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 121-107 on Friday and the Toronto Raptors 117-94 on Saturday to continue their winning streak. In the Eastern Conference, the 7-2 Celtics are second only to the 8-1 Philadelphia 76ers.

 

However, the New York Knicks (5-4) proved on opening night that they are usually formidable opponents of Boston, winning by a slim 108-104 margin. New York has defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, and Charlotte Hornets in their last three games by double digits. What the Knicks must do is  withstand exhaustion as they head to Boston for the second leg of a back-to-back series.

 

SNACKS

Season record: 4–4. 5-2, 1 push against the spread. Above/below: 2–6

10 games ago: 5-5. Spread versus: 7-2, 1 push. Above/below: 3–7

CELTIC

Season record: 7-2; 4-3 against the spread; 2 pushes. Above/below: 5–4.

10 games played: 7-3. Spread versus: 4–4, 2 pushes. Above/below: 5–5.

STATISTICS TEAM

Points scored in each game: Boston 120.2, New York 107.1

Boston 106.8 points per game, New York 102.8

Boston is at.474 and New York is at.415.

Boston’s field goal percentage is.435, while New York’s is.456.

Boston is at.361 and New York is at.349.

Boston’s 3-point percentage was.331, while New York’s was.341.

Stat of the day: The Celtics have attempted the second-highest percentage of 3-pointers in the NBA, 47.8% of their total shots. It’s nearly on comparable to their 48% 3-point attempt percentage from the previous season.

Notes: R.J. Barrett is scorching from beyond the arc, having made precisely half of his 40 3-point tries. He has scored 24 points or more in five of his seven games this season. Even after scorching the Celtics for 24 points in the season opener, Immanuel Quickley is still a player to keep an eye on off the bench. But Julius Randle’s season has gotten off to a terrible start. Despite scoring 16.5 points per game on average, the power forward is only hitting 35.4 percent of his two-pointers and 25.9 percent of his threes. .. Neemias Queta’s foot injury prevents him from playing for the Celtics. Sam Hauser started the season 3-for-15 on 3-point tries, but during the final six games, he has made 21 of 38 (55.3 percent).