2025-05-05 New York at Boston Matchup Preview

Game Overview

The New York Knicks travel to face the Boston Celtics on May 5, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET in a highly anticipated NBA Playoff game. This contest promises to be a clash of contrasting styles, with both teams vying for a crucial victory. Boston, boasting a regular season record of 61 wins and 21 losses, will look to defend their home court against a New York team that finished the season with 51 wins and 31 losses. Expect a hard-fought battle defined by strategic adjustments and intense physicality.

New York Knicks Playoff Outlook

New York enters this game looking to impose their will on the offensive glass and disrupt Boston's offensive flow. During the regular season, the Knicks secured offensive rebounds on 26.0% of their missed shots, but that has dipped to 24.6% during the playoffs. Their overall offensive footprint suggests a team focused on creating second-chance opportunities and capitalizing on opponent mistakes. The Knicks do generate assists on 63.4% of their made shots, but in the playoffs that number has taken a dive to 50.2% of their made shots, indicating a less free-flowing offense than what they are used to. Their ability to maintain ball security, reflected in their regular season turnover percentage of 11.9%, will be tested against Boston's disruptive defense, and even more so during the playoffs, their playoff turnover percentage is lower at 11.7%.

Boston Celtics Playoff Outlook

Boston's playoff identity is built on defensive excellence and efficient offensive execution. The Celtics held opponents to an assist percentage of 59.6% during the regular season, which they have lowered to 52.2% of opponents' made shots during the playoffs, showcasing their ability to limit ball movement. The Celtics also protect the ball well, with their turnover percentage of 10.8% from the regular season increasing slightly to 12.7% during the playoffs, indicating slightly less careful possessions during their playoff run. With a defensive rebounding percentage of 76.1% in the regular season, which is now 74.9% during the playoffs, Boston demonstrates a commitment to securing possessions and limiting second-chance opportunities for their opponents. The Celtics' defensive footprint hints at a team that prioritizes disrupting passing lanes and contesting shots at the perimeter.

Offensive and Defensive Matchups

A key matchup to watch will be New York's offensive rebounding, in which they grab 24.6% of available rebounds during the playoffs, against Boston's defensive rebounding. Boston grabs 74.9% of all defensive rebounds during the playoffs, and the Celtics will need to leverage their size and positioning to limit second-chance opportunities for the Knicks. On the other end, Boston's assist percentage of 55.2% during the playoffs faces New York's defensive assist percentage of 53.8% during the playoffs. New York must disrupt Boston's ball movement and force them into contested shots. Boston will need to find ways to open driving lanes to force ball movement and easier shot opportunities, while taking smart shots. Finally, New York's ability to get steals (9.1% of opponent possessions) and block shots (11.1% of opponent possessions) in the playoffs will be crucial in disrupting Boston's offensive rhythm, especially if the Celtics' offensive turnover percentage rises more.

Intangibles and X-Factors

The game's pace will be a significant factor, as New York plays at a pace of 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes during the regular season versus Boston's 95.7 possessions per 48 minutes. Whichever team can control the tempo and dictate the flow of the game will have a significant advantage. Home-court advantage could also play a role, as Boston has proven to be a tough team to beat on their home floor with 61 wins and 21 losses during the regular season. Both teams will need strong performances from their key players and contributions from their supporting casts to secure a victory.

Prediction

Given Boston's strong defense and offensive efficiency at home, they are favored to win this matchup. While New York's offensive rebounding prowess and defensive intensity will pose a challenge, Boston's overall team balance and playoff experience should give them the edge. Expect a closely contested game, but ultimately, Boston's defensive capabilities and offensive firepower will be too much for New York to overcome.

Predicted Score

New York 99, Boston 107