Celtics dominate Knicks in playoff opener after regular season sweep

In the United States, the Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks began on a Monday, marked by their significant past confrontations. The Celtics, who finished the regular season with an impressive record of 61-21, had recently completed a 4-1 series victory over the Orlando Magic, despite facing injuries. Jayson Tatum and his teammate Jaylen Brown showed their ability to carry the team, especially with Tatum averaging 31.5 points during the playoffs. Their strong showing against the Knicks was preceded by a perfect 4-0 sweep during the regular season, with New York suffering by an average margin of 16.5 points. This dismal record set the stage for heightened expectations and pressure as both teams entered this playoff match-up. While Boston came into the series with confidence, bolstered by a balanced roster and effective gameplay, New York faced a different challenge. They had a tougher first round against the Detroit Pistons, securing their series victory in Game 6. This raised questions about whether they would carry that momentum into a matchup against a seemingly superior opponent. The Knicks, having lost all four regular-season games, were wary but also aware of the intensity playoffs bring, stating that previous outcomes held little weight moving forward. A significant individual matchup to watch involved Boston's Tatum and Brown against New York's OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, as the Knicks had aimed to bolster their defensive front with these acquisitions. Moreover, injuries to key players such as Jrue Holiday for Boston raised questions about the Celtics' potential weaknesses. Holiday's expected return from injury was seen as pivotal, as he was previously averaging 10 points and helped orchestrate the offense effectively. As the match-up unfolded, the Celtics were determined to demonstrate their dominance in front of their home crowd. The NBA playoff atmosphere intensified the rivalry, marking the first meeting between these teams in the playoffs since 2013. Despite the Celtics' previous season sweep, the mood was alert, and caution was advised. Derrick White of the Celtics emphasized the need to treat playoff games differently, as the stakes were much higher than during the regular season, underscoring the competitive edge expected from both teams in this critical series.