Famed ballclubs New York Knicks (2-2) and Boston Celtics (5-1) will square off in a preseason rematch at the TD Garden on Wednesday, Oct. 19 as the 2016-2017 NBA Preseason Games comes down to its final few matches.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
New York has split their first four games of the preseason with new acquisition Derrick Rose playing in only one game so far. The three-time NBA All-Star only featured in the team's preseason-opener against the Houston Rockets.
Rose will not join the Knicks again in this rematch against the Celtics as the former league MVP has been dealing with a court case at the moment.
Sophomore power forward Kristaps Porzingis is also out with a minor injury and head coach Jeff Hornacek is not expected to utilize him as a precautionary measure in preparation for the upcoming regular season opening later this month.
The Knicks will have team leader Carmelo Anthony, though, who had been consistent throughout the preseason despite playing in limited minutes only. Anthony is averaging 15.0 points in 22.2 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, the Celtics have been excellent in the preseason, winning five of their first six matches. The only loss they had was to the Philadelphia 76ers during their own season-opener.
Fourth-year center Kelly Olynyk is out for Boston with a minor injury, but the rest of the squad is ready for head coach Brad Stevens to call.
Steven's starting unit of Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Amir Johnson, and Al Horford are beginning to gel effectively as the coach continues to play them together even in limited minutes throughout the preseason.
The Celtics defeated the Knicks, 119-107, in their first meeting last Saturday at the Madison Square Garden.
Anthony paced the Knicks with 15 points and two rebounds in 23 minutes while Porzingis had nine points and three boards in 15 minutes.
Boston has three starters who scored in double figures, namely Bradley, Horford, and Crowder, who had 15, 12, and 11 points respectively.
Prediction
A repeat victory for the Celtics as they are playing too good right now. Anthony will continue to lead the Knicks as he compensates for Rose and Porzingis' absences.
