The Boston Celtics take on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night in the opening game of the 2023-24 season for both teams.

The Celtics finished second to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference in the 2022-23 season with a 57-25 regular season record. They were nearly the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-0 deficit but ultimately fell short to the Miami Heat in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals. Celtics president Brad Stevens decided to shake things up in the offseason, first in a move that brought in All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis while sending 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies and forwards Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala to the Wizards. Boston wasn’t done there, though, as they responded to the Damian Lillard trade to the Bucks by acquiring All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday from the Trail Blazers in exchange for 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year Malcom Brogdon, center Robert Williams III and two first-round picks.

The Knicks are coming off a 47-35 record in the 2022-23 campaign -- good for fifth-best in the conference -- and made it to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. New York’s roster looks mostly the same for the upcoming season, outside of forward Obi Toppin being sent to the Pacers for two second-round draft picks and Donte DiVincenzo signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the Knicks in free agency. The team is expected to field a starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson. Brunson, who earned his first All-Star nod in 2022-23, is coming off a season averaging 24.0 points, 6.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 68 games.

Despite the difference in the standings last year, the Knicks won the 2022-23 season series 3-1 and have won four of their last six contests.