The New York Knicks enter Thursday night’s game at TD Garden jockeying for playoff positioning in the bottlenecked Eastern Conference standings.
With three regular-season contests remaining, they’re 47-32, sitting 1.5 games behind the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. New York is half a game in front of the Cleveland Cavaliers and 1.5 ahead of the Orlando Magic, who are in fifth, and the sixth-place Indiana Pacers.
As the Knicks, the only one of the teams mentioned in the above stanza who play on Thursday, aim to avoid getting swept 5-0 in their regular-season series with the Boston Celtics, they’ll have to contend with the latter’s star wing tandem.
The hosts of this rivalry clash have upgraded Jayson Tatum (right knee contusion) and Jaylen Brown (left-hand sprain) from questionable on their injury report to available for this matchup. Al Horford, who’s dealing with a left big toe sprain, is also active for this TD Garden tilt.
Fresh off signing a four-year, $135 million extension that will take effect next season, Jrue Holiday remains uncertain for Thursday’s game due to left patella tendinopathy.
Kristaps Porzingis is questionable because of right hamstring injury management. Like Horford, he did not play in Boston’s 104-91 loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Oshae Brissett, non-Covid illness, and Xavier Tillman Sr., who’s nursing right knee tendon irritation, are also listed as questionable for the Celtics’ regular-season series finale vs. the Knicks.
Further Reading
Jrue Holiday on Celtics Extension: ‘Try to Get More Banners, Get More Rings’
Aiming to Maximize Championship Window, Celtics Extend Jrue Holiday
Neemias Queta Inks New Deal with Celtics
Seldom-Used Celtics Reserve Showcasing Playoff Value
Jaylen Brown Shares What Latest Milestone Means to Him
Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented
Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics’ Title Pursuit: ‘It’s a Process’
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: ‘It Builds, Like, an Armor’
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics’ Offense: ‘Balance of Pace and Execution’