Notable numbers as top-seed Celtics face rising Knicks

Two of the NBA’s most storied franchises will battle one another Saturday as a potential Japanese Convention playoff preview.

The surging No. 1 Boston Celtics are coming off a seven-game profitable streak, whereas the New York Knicks sit at No. 4 within the East after stopping a four-game skid.

Whereas the Celtics stay agency on their grip on the Japanese Convention as the highest seed, the Knicks are a recreation behind the third-place Milwaukee Bucks. To date this season, the Celtics have defeated the Knicks in all three matchups.

This is a glance into a few of the historic numbers between the 2 groups heading into Saturday.

493: This would be the 493rd time the Celtics and Knicks play one another in a regular-season recreation, marking probably the most conferences between any groups in NBA historical past. The Celtics have received 303 occasions, which is probably the most wins by one crew towards one other, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data.

2: The Celtics are first within the NBA in offensive effectivity and second in defensive effectivity this season.

Prior to now 25 years, three groups have completed prime two in offensive and defensive effectivity: the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors, 2016-17 Warriors and the 2022-23 Celtics. The Warriors received an NBA championship in each of these seasons.

50: When the Celtics beat the Nets 136-86 earlier than the All-Star break, they turned the third crew in NBA historical past to win a number of video games by 50-plus factors in a season.

22: Jalen Brunson — a first-time NBA All-Star — continues his breakout with 22 30-point video games this season. Brunson is now third on the listing of most 30-point video games in a season for guards in Knicks historical past.

118.5: When the Knicks went on their ascension in January, it was totally on the defensive finish. The acquisition of OG Anunoby performed a key half within the turnaround, rising the Knicks’ defensive effectivity to 104.4, which was first within the NBA.

Since Anunoby’s damage Jan. 29, the protection slipped to twenty second, with an effectivity of 118.5 throughout February.

ESPN Stats & Data contributed to this text.