Celtics-Knicks at MSG Puts No. 2 Seed Within Reach for Boston as Jaylen Brown Sits

Overview

• Boston can clinch the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference No. 2 seed with a win Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden on Amazon Prime Video.
• Multiple outlets reported the Celtics ruled out Jaylen Brown with left Achilles tendinitis, while Derrick White, Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta remained listed as questionable.
• Jayson Tatum confirmed he will play in his first game at MSG since rupturing his Achilles last May, calling the return a hurdle he chose to face.
• The Knicks enter mostly healthy and lead the season series 2-1, and several books list New York as a slight favorite at about 4.5 points.
• If Boston locks in the No. 2 seed, its first-round opponent would be the play-in winner for the No. 7 spot, with Charlotte, Philadelphia, Orlando and Toronto among the candidates.