Celtics vs Knicks Tonight: Boston Home Opener Start Time, Starting Lineups, Injury Report and How to Watch

BOSTON — This is the one everybody in Boston has circled. The Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks tonight in the Celtics home opener at TD Garden, with tip-off at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, October 23, 2026. Both teams are 0-1, both are desperate for a first win, and the defending champion Knicks walk into a building that will be absolutely rocking.

Let's be real, Celtics fans: this is way bigger than a normal Game 2. You have Paul George's home debut, Mitchell Robinson facing his old team, and a Boston team that needs to answer for blowing a 22-point lead in Detroit on opening night. Here's everything you need — Celtics vs Knicks start time, starting lineups, the injury report, and how to watch.

Paul George NBA star dribbling a basketball during a game before his Boston Celtics home debut

Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut Tuesday, a franchise record for a first game with Boston. (File photo)

Celtics vs Knicks tonight: start time, TV channel and how to watch

  • Matchup: New York Knicks (0-1) at Boston Celtics (0-1)
  • Date and time: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
  • Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
  • TV / streaming: Amazon Prime Video exclusively — no local TV
  • Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
  • Odds: Celtics -2.5 home favorites, total around 221.5–223.5
TD Garden Boston Celtics home court parquet floor with the Celtics logo at center court

TD Garden in Boston, home of the Celtics, hosts the home opener against the champion Knicks tonight. (File photo)

Mitchell Robinson faces the Knicks: the storyline of the night

Mitchell Robinson in his New York Knicks No. 23 jersey flexing, before signing with the Boston Celtics

Mitchell Robinson faces the Knicks, his former team, for the first time as Boston's starting center. (File photo)

If you only follow one matchup tonight, make it this one. Mitchell Robinson helped the Knicks win their first NBA championship since 1973 last spring, then signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with Boston in July — and tonight the Celtics' new starting center goes straight at his old team and his old frontcourt partner, Karl-Anthony Towns. Robinson briefly tweaked his ankle in Tuesday's opener, but he is not on the injury report and is cleared to play. The Knicks know exactly how dangerous he is on the offensive glass, because they lived it for years — that's the Robinson revenge game angle everybody is talking about, and our friends at Posting and Toasting's Knicks vs Celtics preview flagged it too.

Paul George's Celtics home debut after a franchise-record 38 points

What a way to introduce yourself. Paul George scored 38 points in Detroit on Tuesday — a franchise record for a Celtics debut — with seven three-pointers, exactly like we broke down in Paul George's Celtics debut eruption against the Pistons. Tonight George hears the TD Garden crowd roar for him for the first time, against the team Boston fans love to hate most. If George cooks again and the Garden gets loud early, this building becomes a problem for New York real fast.

Jayson Tatum needs a bounce-back game against the Knicks

Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics forward wearing No. 0 dribbling the basketball at TD Garden

Jayson Tatum looks to bounce back from a 6-of-23 shooting night in the opener when the Celtics host the Knicks. (File photo)

Here's the other side of opening night: Jayson Tatum shot just 6-of-23 in Detroit, finishing with 13 points even though he added 11 assists. Boston blew a 22-point second-half lead and gave up a 23-0 fourth-quarter run in the 121-113 loss to the Pistons. The good news? As Sam Hauser said at practice, the Celtics aren't panicking after one game — the fixes are rebounding, handling pressure and finishing defensive possessions. Tatum has averaged 27.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists over his last 10 meetings with the Knicks, so history says a bounce-back is coming.

Celtics vs Knicks injury report: Devin Carter out with mono

The Celtics injury report is short and clean: guard Devin Carter is OUT with mononucleosis, with an expected return around November 8. He is Boston's only name on the report. For the Knicks, there are no rotation injuries — their only questionable names are two-way players on G League assignments. Translation: both teams are basically at full strength, which is exactly what you want for a home opener like this.

Celtics vs Knicks probable starting lineups

Boston Celtics starting lineup

  • Derrick White — PG
  • Jordan Walsh — SG
  • Paul George — SF
  • Jayson Tatum — PF
  • Mitchell Robinson — C

New York Knicks starting lineup

  • Jalen Brunson — PG (21 points in the Knicks' opener)
  • Mikal Bridges — SG
  • Josh Hart — SF
  • OG Anunoby — PF
  • Karl-Anthony Towns — C (19 points, 12 rebounds in the opener)

New York lost its opener too, 106-100 to the 76ers on the night they raised their championship banner, so the champs come in just as hungry. And don't sleep on Boston's bench — Payton Pritchard leading the second unit against New York's reserves could quietly swing this game.

Why this Celtics home opener matters so much

Going 0-2 with both losses stinging is how early-season pressure starts in Boston. Winning tonight, in this building, against the defending champs and the team that knocked around the East last spring, is how you announce that the new-look Celtics — George, Robinson and all — are for real. Keep it locked on Boston Sport News for the full post-game recap tonight, and catch up on this morning's other big Boston story: the Patriots' 30-24 loss to the Bears, where Drake Maye's 321 yards weren't enough — plus Thursday's Bruins 6-0 rout of the Predators behind Michael DiPietro's first NHL shutout.

Celtics vs Knicks: Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the Celtics vs Knicks game tonight?

The Celtics vs Knicks game tips off at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, October 23, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston.

How can I watch Celtics vs Knicks tonight?

The game streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video — there is no local TV broadcast. Radio coverage is on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Who is out for the Celtics against the Knicks?

Devin Carter is out with mononucleosis (expected return around November 8). He is the only Celtic on the injury report; Mitchell Robinson is cleared to play against his former team.

What are the Celtics and Knicks records?

Both teams are 0-1. The Celtics lost 121-113 at Detroit after blowing a 22-point lead, and the Knicks lost 106-100 to the 76ers in their opener.

Sources

Location: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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