2017-18 Game Thread: Knicks @ Celtics

The Knicks head to Boston to take on the Eastern Conference-leading (by a slim one-game margin over the Toronto Raptors, so the Celtics are not only 1 spot away from being the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference, they’re one spot away from being the #2 team in their own division) Boston Celtics.

This would normally be an automatic loss, but the Celtics are playing without their All-Star point guard, Kyrie Irving, tonight. They will also play without Marcus Smart and back-up point guard, Shane Larkin. They will be starting Terry Rozier in his first career NBA start.

It would be nice to see Knick All-Star Kristaps Porzingis do better against the Celtics than he has recently. They’ve been really busting him up when they play, but his nemesis Marcus Smart is out tonight, which is good for KP.

The Knicks beat the Celtics the last time that these two teams met, so this game is very much a winnable game for the Knicks. It would be their biggest road win in some time (and literally the first time all year that they would have back-to-back road victories). It would also give the Knicks three wins in a row to give them momentum at just the right time to convince them to trade their first round pick for Jabari Parker.

Let’s go? Knicks?

Knicks Morning News (2018.01.31)

  • [NYDN] Ron Baker leaves Knicks’ win with shoulder injury
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:54:31 PM)

    Baker was in the game less than a minute when his night suddenly was over.

  • [NYDN] Kanter: ‘May ask for a trade’ if he replaces Love on Team LeBron
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:40:20 PM)

    Enes Kanter has flourished with the Knicks this season.

  • [NYDN] Knicks complete season sweep of Nets with 111-95 win
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 5:00:39 PM)

    Kristaps Porzingis wants to make a postseason push and he finally played like it Tuesday.

  • [NYDN] Joakim Noah’s exile from Knicks unlikely to end anytime soon
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 2:14:26 PM)

    Joakim Noah’s exile continues.

  • [NY Newsday] Knicks center Enes Kanter does it all in rout of Nets
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11:08:06 PM)

    Enes Kanter did his usual dirty work and was a force inside Tuesday night, but he also showed some impressive playmaking ability.

  • [NY Newsday] Kristaps Porzingis, Enes Kanter lead Knicks to sweep of Nets
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 10:54:25 PM)

    The battle of New York was no battle. Again.

  • [NYPost] Ron Baker injures shoulder but keeps on slapping fives
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 10:45:35 PM)

    The Knicks went through their customary postgame victory celebration, slapping fives. Ron Baker joined in and coach Jeff Hornacek thought the guard was nuts. Baker had left the 111-95 victory over the Nets in the first quarter with a right shoulder injury, a possible dislocation. “He said he felt something, he didn’t hear anything, he…

  • [NYPost] Knicks dominate Nets to record season sweep
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 5:18:41 PM)

    Before the game, before what turned into another visit essentially to Dante’s seventh circle of hell for his team, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson was bemoaning several undeniable truths. The Knicks routinely have kicked the Nets’ butts this season, with Atkinson noting, “They’ve pretty much dominated us.” But also, the Knicks are a matchup made somewhere…

  • [NYPost] Jeff Hornacek may be big winner in Noah-Knicks showdown
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 4:05:17 PM)

    The Knicks were wearing their City Edition uniforms Tuesday night against the Nets at the Garden. They were designed to commemorate the FDNY, the brave men who put out fires big and small. Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek wore a suit and tie, but an FDNY jersey probably was more fitting considering he was still trying…

  • [NYPost] Exiled Noah won’t be rejoining Knicks anytime in near future
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 2:59:20 PM)

    Exiled Knicks center Joakim Noah will not be with the team Wednesday in Boston, according to coach Jeff Hornacek, and indications are he may not be back with the team until after the Feb. 8 trade deadline. The Post reported the Knicks have ramped up their trade efforts to see if they can find a…

  • [NYTimes] Knicks 111, Nets 95: Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter Lead Knicks in Rout of Nets
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:54:02 AM)

    Porzingis scored 28 points and Kanter had 20 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists as the Knicks completed a regular-season sweep of the Nets.

  • [NYTimes] James Harden Sets Rockets Record With 60 Points
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 4:33:30 AM)

    Harden became the first player in N.B.A. history to score 60 points as part of a triple-double.

  • [NYTimes] On Pro Basketball: What the Blake Griffin Trade Means for the Clippers and Pistons
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:54:30 AM)

    Los Angeles is creating salary cap space to sign free agents this summer. Detroit is trying to be relevant in the East and sell some tickets.

  • [NYTimes] Clippers Send Blake Griffin to Pistons in Blockbuster Trade
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:11:19 PM)

    The Clippers will receive Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic and two draft picks in the deal.

  • [SNY Knicks] GEICO SportsNite: Knicks react to Kanter’s monster night
    (Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:34:13 AM)

  • [SNY Knicks] Enes Kanter laughs off idea of joining Team LeBron for NBA All-Star Game
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11:45:02 PM)

    NEW YORK — With Kevin Love now sidelined 6-8 weeks with a fractured left hand, there’s an open spot in the NBA All-Star Game.

  • [SNY Knicks] Porzingis, Kanter lead Knicks to 111-95 win over Nets
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 10:13:41 PM)

    NEW YORK (AP) Kristaps Porzingis scored 28 points, Enes Kanter had 20 points, 20 rebounds and five assists, and the Knicks completed a New York City sweep of the Brooklyn Nets with a 111-95 victory Tuesday night.

  • [SNY Knicks] Joakim Noah will not be with team on Tuesday, Wednesday
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:23:37 PM)

    Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said C Joakim Noah will not be with the team on Tuesday or Wednesday, coach Jeff Hornacek said.

  • [SNY Knicks] Daily News Live: Bondy on Noah’s future
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 6:09:36 PM)

  • [SNY Knicks] Tonight’s game: Nets vs. Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 5:24:48 PM)

    NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets, losers of nine out of their last 12 games, head just a short way over to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night to face the New York Knicks.

  • [SNY Knicks] Daily News Live: The Knicks can’t keep Ntilikina on the bench
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 11:35:30 AM)

    With the emergence of Trey Burke and veteran Jarrett Jack still starting, where does that leave Knicks rookie PG Frank Ntilikina.

  • [ESPN] Joakim Noah remains away from the Knicks: Will he ever return?
    (Tuesday, January 30, 2018 7:56:34 PM)

    Will Joakim Noah ever play for the Knicks again? It’s too early to say for sure, but the signs aren’t looking good.