New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2019 ) Boston 118, New York 95

The Boston Celtics seek their second win over the New York Knicks in a week and their fourth straight victory overall when they host the Knicks on Friday. After a 118-95 triumph in Madison Square Garden on Saturday, the Celtics stormed back from a 16-point halftime deficit to knock off Milwaukee 116-105 at home Wednesday.

Boston also has a victory over defending NBA champion Toronto during the run and has signalled early on that it will be a contender in the Eastern Conference. "On any given night, if we play like we are supposed to, we can compete with anybody," Celtics guard Marcus Smart told ESPN. "And that resiliency that we've been looking for is there." The Knicks have struggled to get going and found no rhythm in a 95-83 loss at Orlando on Wednesday. New York shot 38.8 percent in the 23-point loss to the Celtics and finished at 37.8 percent versus the Magic.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), NBC Sports Boston

ABOUT THE KNICKS (1-4): New York continues to search for answers at point guard, as Elfrid Payton (groin), Dennis Smith Jr. (personal) and Kadeem Allen (knee) all were out Wednesday. Rookie RJ Barrett started at the point and Frank Ntilikina -- the one true point guard available -- played 29 minutes off the bench and provided four of the team's 19 assists, which left them with an East-low 18.8 per game. "The ball stopped moving," coach David Fizdale told reporters. "When the ball stops moving for us, it's death."

ABOUT THE CELTICS (3-1): Guard Kemba Walker has been everything Boston could have hoped for and the three-time All-Star is averaging 28.7 points and six rebounds during the winning streak. Smart stepped up with a season-high 19 points while filling in for Jaylen Brown (illness) in the win over Milwaukee. Forward Daniel Theis, who was inactive at the Knicks on Saturday, made his second start Wednesday with center Enes Kanter (knee) out and responded with 11 points and nine rebounds -- both season highs -- in 28 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Walker was 11-for-17 from the floor while making 7-of-12 3-pointers in the win at New York.

2. Knicks PF Julius Randle has five straight double-doubles out of the gate after recording 16 points and 10 rebounds at Orlando.

3. Boston is shooting 41.1 percent from the floor -- 28th in the NBA -- but it attempts 96 shots, more than every team except New Orleans (100.8).

PREDICTION: Celtics 112, Knicks 98