New York Knicks (12-8, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (15-5, first in the Eastern Conference)
Boston; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: New York visits the Boston Celtics after Julius Randle scored 41 points in the Knicks' 146-122 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Celtics are 8-1 against Atlantic Division teams. Boston averages 116.5 points and has outscored opponents by 8.4 points per game.
The Knicks are 1-2 against opponents in the Atlantic Division. New York averages 111.5 points while outscoring opponents by 4.0 points per game.
The Celtics are shooting 47.4% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points higher than the 47.3% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks are shooting 44.8% from the field, 0.7% higher than the 44.1% the Celtics' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. The Celtics won 114-98 in the last matchup on Nov. 14.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jayson Tatum is averaging 27.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 19.3 points over the last 10 games for Boston.
Randle is scoring 21.5 points per game with 10.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is averaging 27.2 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 50.8% over the last 10 games for New York.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 113.4 points, 46.8 rebounds, 24.7 assists, 6.7 steals and 6.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.3 points per game.
Knicks: 7-3, averaging 114.5 points, 44.5 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.7 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Kristaps Porzingis: day to day (calf).
Knicks: DaQuan Jeffries: day to day (illness), Evan Fournier: day to day (illness).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
