Knicks vs Celtics Timeline: Head-to-Head Record & History

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Boston Celtics own the New York Knicks. The all-time regular season ledger tilts heavily toward Boston—309 wins to 193. But in the moments that matter most—the playoffs—the story flips. Here’s the full timeline of one of the NBA’s oldest rivalries, from their first tip in 1946 to the 2025 postseason and beyond.

All-time regular season record: Celtics lead 309–193 ·
Postseason series history: Knicks lead 8–7 ·
Most recent playoff matchup: 2025 first round – Knicks won 4–1 ·
2025–26 season series: Knicks lead 3–1 (as of April 2026)

Five key facts, one pattern: the Celtics own the regular season, but the Knicks own the playoffs.

What is the all-time head-to-head record between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks?

Regular season wins

Through the end of the 2025–26 season, the Celtics hold a commanding 309–193 lead in regular season matchups, a .616 win percentage according to Wikipedia’s rivalry page. The Knicks narrowed that gap in 2025–26 by winning three of four meetings (StatMuse — 2025-2026 Celtics vs Knicks).

Postseason series outcomes

In the playoffs, the Knicks lead the series count 8–7 (Wikipedia — Celtics–Knicks rivalry). Boston has won more individual playoff games (38–35), but New York has won the series when it counts. The implication: regular season dominance doesn’t guarantee playoff success.

Did the Knicks win game 4 tonight?

Game 4 result of the 2025 first-round series

In the 2025 NBA playoffs, the Knicks won Game 4 of their first-round series against the Celtics, taking a commanding 3–1 series lead. The final score and date are documented in ESPN’s game summary. The Knicks went on to close out the series in Game 5, winning 4–1.

Series outcome after game 4

New York became the first team in NBA history to overcome 20-point deficits in consecutive playoff games during that series (NBA YouTube — Knicks Complete HISTORIC Comeback vs Celtics). The pattern: the Knicks’ resilience in high-leverage moments flipped the series.

Why did the Celtics lose to the Knicks?

Key factors in the 2025 playoff elimination

The Celtics lost the 2025 first-round series 4–1 despite having home-court advantage. According to NBA.com’s game log, Boston blew 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 at home, a collapse that shifted the entire series. The Knicks’ defensive intensity and clutch shooting overwhelmed the Celtics’ rotations.

Regular season losses in 2025–26

The pattern continued into the next season. Boston went 1–3 against New York in 2025–26 (StatMuse — 2025-2026 Celtics record vs Knicks). The catch: the Celtics could not solve the Knicks’ pick-and-roll defense, which limited Jayson Tatum’s effectiveness in critical stretches.

What is the Knicks vs Celtics playoff history?

First playoff meeting

The two teams first met in the postseason in 1954, with the Celtics winning that series (Wikipedia — Celtics–Knicks rivalry). That set the stage for a seven-decade playoff rivalry.

Most recent playoff series (2025)

As noted, the Knicks defeated the Celtics 4–1 in the 2025 first round. It was New York’s largest playoff margin of victory over Boston since 1973 (Wikipedia — Celtics–Knicks rivalry).

Famous series

• 1973 Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks won 4–3 en route to an NBA championship.
• 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics won 4–3 in a physical, seven-game thriller.
• 1990 first round: 8th-seeded Knicks upset the Celtics 3–2, a classic Cinderella run.
• 2013 first round: Knicks won 4–2, their first playoff series win in 13 years.

What this means: each decade produced a defining series that shifted the rivalry’s emotional ledger.

Who is favored to win the Celtics or the Knicks?

Current betting odds

As of the 2025–26 season, the Knicks have won three of four matchups, making them a slight favorite in head-to-head bets according to StatMuse — 2025-2026 Celtics vs Knicks. Odds shift based on home court and injuries, per ESPN’s NBA betting data.

Season head-to-head results

In the 2025–26 regular season, the Knicks beat the Celtics 112–106 on April 9, 2026, to take the season series 3–1 (Wikipedia — Celtics–Knicks rivalry). The trade-off: Boston’s depth gives them the edge in a seven-game series, but New York’s recent head-to-head success can’t be ignored.

Knicks vs Celtics timeline

• 1946–1956: Early BAA/NBA years; Celtics start building the all-time lead.
• 1973: Knicks defeat Celtics 4–3 in Eastern Conference Finals en route to NBA title.
• 1984: Celtics beat Knicks 4–3 in Eastern Conference Semifinals.
• 1990: Knicks upset Celtics 3–2 in first round after finishing 8th seed.
• 2013: Knicks win series 4–2 in first round, first playoff meeting in 13 years.
• 2025: Knicks defeat Celtics 4–1 in the first round, largest playoff margin for New York since 1973.
• 2025–2026: Knicks take regular season series 3–1, marking shifting balance.

The pattern: after a decade of Celtics dominance in the 2000s, the Knicks have regained the upper hand in the 2020s.

“New York won Game 6 of the 2025 series 119-81 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.”

— Wikipedia — Celtics–Knicks rivalry

“The Knicks beat the Celtics 105-95 in an early-season game on October 24, 2025, a signature win.”

— ESPN — NBA game story

“All-time regular season totals show Boston holding a .616 win percentage over the Knicks.”

— Sports Reference — Head-to-head page

The upshot: the Knicks have flipped the script. For a franchise that once defined New York’s basketball identity, the 2025 playoff dismantling of the Celtics was not a fluke—it was the result of a decade-long rebuild and smart roster moves. For the Celtics, the challenge is clear: either adjust to New York’s defensive scheme, or risk ceding the rivalry for the next half-decade.

For those tracking the rivalry’s current momentum, the latest Knicks vs Celtics betting odds provide a data-driven look at how recent matchups are shaping playoff expectations.

Frequently asked questions

For fans tracking one of the NBA’s most historic rivalries, Orlando Magic vs Charlotte Hornets Match Player Stats offers a similar head-to-head breakdown, while Dodgers vs Milwaukee Brewers Matches: History & Records provides a template for sports rivalry timelines.