Brown Carries Celtics Toward Fifth Straight vs Knicks

Merlin sees a simple prize on the line. A Celtics win Thursday over the Knicks would clinch Boston a fifth straight Atlantic Division title and lock up the No. 2 seed in the East as the playoffs near. Boston (54-25) rides a four-game streak, while New York (51-28) leads the season series 2-1 after a 111-89 win in Boston on Feb. 8. Merlin notes the run is more impressive given the losses this year, including Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles and veterans like Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford. Coach Joe Mazzulla steadied the ship and Jaylen Brown became the engine, posting career highs and saying, "From a financial standpoint, this was a rebuild, right? But I didn't look at it like that" and "I looked at it as an opportunity to show the world who I am." Boston looks like a favorite in the East, but depth questions remain without Tatum.