Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks is shaping up to be a series-defining battle at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. With both teams fully aware of the stakes, fans can expect a fiercely contested matchup as Boston looks to even the series and New York aims to protect its home-court advantage.
A 3-1 deficit is something no team has overcome in the past five years, so the Celtics have every reason to come out with urgency. Meanwhile, the Knicks are determined not to squander their lead or momentum. Both squads are expected to be locked in for what could be the pivotal point of the series.
Knicks Need Higher-Quality Shots
New York’s offense, which ranked fifth in efficiency during the regular season, has been struggling in the playoffs. According to Second Spectrum tracking, the Knicks rank last in shot quality among all postseason teams. They overachieved during the regular season by hitting a high percentage of tough shots, but that magic has worn off in the playoffs.
Players like Jalen Brunson have seen their efficiency drop. Four Knicks currently rank among the bottom 15 in effective field goal percentage (under 48%) among players with at least 30 shots in the conference semifinals.
Boston’s defense has done a solid job limiting New York’s options. Their coverage on the Brunson-Karl-Anthony Towns pick-and-roll has reduced its effectiveness, and the Knicks are struggling to find reliable scoring elsewhere. Brunson has tried targeting Al Horford, but the Celtics have generally handled those matchups well. The Knicks may need to get more creative — perhaps even using Brunson as a screener — to shake up Boston’s defense.
Celtics Seeking Offensive Rhythm
Boston hasn’t been much better offensively. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown rank near the bottom in shooting efficiency during the semifinals. While the Celtics have consistently created advantages on offense, they’ve often failed to capitalize on them due to poor decision-making or rushed shot selection.
A prime example came in Game 3, when Brown settled for a step-back three instead of attacking a lone defender on a fast break. That kind of moment has become too common for a team that stormed to a title last year with clear offensive purpose. The Celtics must rediscover that rhythm if they hope to even the series.
Transition Play Could Be a Deciding Factor
Both teams have had trouble scoring in the halfcourt, so transition opportunities are more valuable than ever. The winner of each game in the series so far has also won the transition points battle.
The Knicks were effective in transition in Games 1 and 2 but dropped off in Game 3, scoring only eight fast-break points. Boston, in contrast, had its best transition performance of the series with 20 points. A big reason was their ball security — only three live-ball turnovers after 21 in the first two games.
Derrick White’s defensive effort exemplified Boston’s ability to stop fast breaks. In one key possession, he halted a push by Josh Hart, recovered to close out on Mikal Bridges, and contested a difficult jumper. Both teams will need that kind of intensity to control transition chances.
Big Men with Big Questions
Kristaps Porziņģis and Karl-Anthony Towns are expected to play, but their impact remains uncertain. Porziņģis has been hampered by illness and has logged just 46 minutes in the series, shooting 3-for-12. Towns, meanwhile, suffered a hand injury and shot just 5-for-18 in Game 3.
Towns is more central to the Knicks’ offensive hopes, especially with his ability to stretch the floor. But Boston has kept him from getting clean looks from deep — he’s attempted just seven threes in three games, most from deep range.
If either Porziņģis or Towns can find a rhythm, it could tilt Game 4 and potentially the series. But with both teams desperate for a win, the smallest margins could make the biggest difference.
