Two of the NBA’s most storied franchises, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, are set to face off for the 493rd time in NBA history. The top-seed Celtics are on a seven-game winning streak, while the Knicks, currently at No. 4 in the East, have halted a four-game skid. With the Celtics firmly holding onto the top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Knicks trailing a game behind the third-place Milwaukee Bucks, the upcoming game could serve as a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview.

Historically, the Celtics have the upper hand, having won 303 out of the 493 matchups against the Knicks, marking the most meetings between any teams in NBA history. Additionally, the Celtics have demonstrated their dominance this season, ranking first in offensive efficiency and second in defensive efficiency, a feat achieved by only three teams in the past 25 years, two of which went on to win NBA championships.

Notably, the Celtics made history by becoming the third team in NBA history to win multiple games by 50-plus points in a season when they defeated the Nets 136-86 before the All-Star break. On the other hand, Jalen Brunson, a first-time NBA All-Star, has been a standout for the Knicks, recording 22 30-point games this season and securing the third spot on the list of most 30-point games in a season for guards in Knicks history.

Furthermore, the Knicks’ defensive prowess saw a significant boost with the acquisition of OG Anunoby, leading to an improvement in their defensive efficiency. However, since Anunoby’s injury in late January, the Knicks’ defensive performance has waned, slipping to 22nd in the league with an efficiency of 118.5 during February.