# What is the greatest Knicks vs Celtics playoff series?

> Seven decades of playoff meetings between New York and Boston, from double-overtime classics to lopsided sweeps. Each one is remembered a little differently in the two cities.

*By YPB Team · Published October 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/what-is-the-greatest-knicks-vs-celtics-playoff-series*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **1973 Knicks–Celtics East finals** — score 1000/1000
   A seven-game series with a double-overtime Game 4, won by the Knicks in Game 7 on their way to the title.
2. **2011 Celtics–Knicks first round** — score 454/1000
   Boston swept 4–0 even though Carmelo Anthony scored 42 points with 17 rebounds in a Game 2 loss.
3. **1969 Celtics–Knicks East finals** — score 372/1000
   Boston won 4–2 with Bill Russell averaging 20.8 rebounds on the way to his last championship.
4. **1984 Celtics–Knicks East semifinals** — score 372/1000
   A seven-game series won by Boston at home, with Larry Bird at 30.4 points a game and Bernard King at 29.1 for New York.
5. **2013 Knicks–Celtics first round** — score 372/1000
   New York won 4–2 with Carmelo Anthony averaging 29.2 points against a Celtics team missing the injured Rajon Rondo.
6. **1990 Knicks–Celtics first round** — score 372/1000
   The Knicks won 3–2 as Patrick Ewing averaged 31.6 points and 11.4 rebounds and outdueled Larry Bird.
7. **1952 Knicks–Celtics East semifinals** — score 273/1000
   The Knicks won 2–1, with Game 3 going to two overtimes and ending 88–87 while Bob Cousy averaged 31 points for Boston.
8. **2025 Knicks–Celtics East semifinals** — score 0/1000
   The Knicks won 4–2, taking Game 1 in overtime after trailing by 20 and closing it with a 119–81 rout at Madison Square Garden.

Tags: basketball, nba, knicks, playoffs, rivalry, celtics