Celtics Can Clinch Fifth Straight Atlantic Title

The Celtics can clinch a fifth straight Atlantic Division title with a win over the Knicks on Thursday night. Boston, 54-25, has won four straight and can also lock up the No. 2 seed in the East. New York, 51-28, leads the season series 2-1 after a 111-89 win in Boston on Feb. 8. Boston got here without Jayson Tatum, who tore his Achilles during the 2025 season, and after moving on from Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Jaylen Brown has carried a huge load, averaging career highs of 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists. “I looked at it as an opportunity to show the world who I am and what I could do,” Brown told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.