Celtics Visit the Other Garden

This is the 4th game between these two Atlantic division rivals. The Celtics have won all three of the previous meetings.  Although the rivalry isn't what it used to be in the good old days, there have been more than a few testy moments between these two clubs this season already, including Quentin Richardson and Paul Pierce being ejected in their second meeting and QRich challenging Pierce to a fight on the way out. 

Even through they are out of the playoffs, the Knicks have picked up their play since Donnie Walsh took over the club.  They beat the Bobcats, Pistons and Magic before falling to the Hawks in their last game.  So, even though they are out of the playoffs and looking for a good lottery pick, New York hasn't just quit and are still playing hard.  They may be playing to impress Walsh and for their jobs next season.  They especially will want to beat the Celtics because of the bad blood between these two teams.  They felt disrespected when the Celtics beat them by so much in their first meeting and there have been hot tempers in every game. 

New York is 4-6 in their last 10 games and 15-25 at home.  The Celtics are 9-1 in their last 10 games and 30-10 on the road.  The Knicks are 1-14 in the division and the Celtics are 12-2 against division rivals.    Whether the Celtics win or lose this one, the most important thing in this game is to come out of it without any injuries.