The New York Knicks will look to achieve a form of redemption on Christmas Day. What must the Knicks do to defeat the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden?
It’d be fair to say that the 115-87 loss to the Boston Celtics on November 11 was a turning point for the New York Knicks. Since that 28-point blowout loss pushed the Knicks to 3-5 on the season, they’ve gone 13-8.
On Christmas Day, the Knicks will have an opportunity exact a measure of revenge when the Celtics come to Madison Square Garden.
Boston and New York enter this game with similar records and legitimate postseason aspirations. The Celtics come to Madison Square Garden at 17-13 overall and 11-7 on the road, while the Knicks are 16-13 and 11-4 at home.
Whichever team wins this game will not only leapfrog the other in the standings, but temporarily secure a place in the Top 4 in the Eastern Conference.
It’s far too early to put stock into a team’s place in the standings, but both the Celtics and Knicks need this win. Boston is looking to rebound from a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York needs to avenge one of its most devastating losses.
The question is: what will be the keys to victory when the New York Knicks resume the rivalry with the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day?