Watch tonight's Celtics-Knicks game on NBC Sports Boston, or stream the game here.
TORONTO – Getting up to play the Toronto Raptors was easy for the Celtics.
Like the Celtics, the Raptors are one of the top teams in the East.
And in their first meeting of the season, the Raptors looked and played the part on Friday in winning, 113-101.
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The New York Knicks?
They pose a different kind of challenge being a scrappy squad with lots of youth that, on paper at least, doesn’t have the kind of depth or talent the Celtics possess.
Boston Celtics
“They got a young team,” said Marcus Morris. “They’re trying to find their way. They’re gonna play hard. We have to go in there and take care of business.”
Indeed, the Celtics know they can’t take the Knicks lightly.
“We have to go in there and get it done,” Morris said. “At the end of the day, they’re NBA players.”
Morris believes the key for Boston tonight at Madison Square Garden will be matching the Knicks’ intensity.
“Once we match their intensity, athletically, physically, fundamentally, we’re better,” he said. “We just have to match their intensity.”
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Celtics guard Terry Rozier believes getting off to a good start will play a huge role in avoiding tonight’s game being a down-to-the-wire dogfight.
“Kill them in the first half,” Rozier told NBC Sports Boston, adding that the Celtics need to “set the tone early.”
There were multiple mistakes and miscues that contributed to Boston’s first loss of the season. Still, within that defeat, are lessons that should be learned and can help as early as tonight.
But ultimately, the formula for success for this team is a relatively simple one.
“Come out, play hard, and play Celtics basketball,” Jaylen Brown said.
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