Both teams look a little different. Boston had its well-documented summer teardown to get under the luxury-tax threshold, while New York surprisingly fired head coach Tom Thibodeau and replaced him with Mike Brown.
Friday’s tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in New York.
The game will be the first NBA game broadcast on Amazon Prime as part of the tech giant’s new 11-year NBA broadcasting deal. The streaming platform will air 66 regular-season games across the league, including the knockout stages of the NBA Cup and all six games of the play-in tournament.
Here’s a preview.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV, radio: Amazon, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: New York -3.5. O/U: 229.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 0-1. vs. spread: 0-1. Over/under: 1-0
Last 10 games: 4-6. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 5-4, 1 push
KNICKS
Season record: 1-0. vs. spread: 1-0. Over/under: 1-0
Last 10 games: 5-5. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 6-4
Stat of the day: The Celtics lost the season opener at home for the first time since 2006.
Notes: Big man Luka Garza has been ruled out for Friday’s game after suffering a concussion in Boston’s season-opening loss to the 76ers. Garza was injured by a stray elbow from Philadelphia’s Adem Bona. … The Celtics struggled to defend on the perimeter on Wednesday, allowing 74 combined points from Tyrese Maxey (40) and VJ Edgecombe (34). “I don’t know if it was too focused on the offensive end,” Jaylen Brown said, “but we can’t just let guys come here and just do what they want.” … Edgecombe’s 34 points were the most by a rookie in an NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain’s 43 points in his debut in 1959. … The Celtics have won eight of their last nine regular-season matchups with the Knicks, but New York got the last laugh in eliminating Boston in six games in the playoffs in May. … The Knicks won their opener against the Cavaliers, 119-111, behind 24 points and 14 rebounds from OG Anunoby. Star guard Jalen Brunson struggled from the field, shooting just 5 of 18, but hit 12 of 13 free throws to finish with 23 points.
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.
