Knicks vs. Celtics live score, updates, highlights from 2021 season-opening NBA game

The Knicks and Celtics open their seasons with a showdown at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks are coming off of a season in which they finished with a 41-31 record, good for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics posted a 36-36 record in 2020-21, earning them the No. 7 seed.

Both teams underwent a lot of change this offseason, with the Knicks adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, and the Celtics adding Al Horford and Dennis Schroder.

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Knicks vs. Celtics on Wednesday night. Follow for complete results from the game.

MORE: Watch Celtics vs. Knicks live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Knicks vs. Celtics score

Knicks vs. Celtics live updates, highlights

(All times Eastern)

End of the third – Knicks 86, Celtics 82

9:33 p.m: That’s the quarter. Knicks outscore the Celtics 32-24 in the period to carry a four-point lead into the fourth period. They ended that third quarter on a 15-6 run. 

9:28 p.m: RANDLE TO BARRET! Not once, but twice. First, the corner 3 and then slam in transition. 

9:23 p.m: Knicks take the lead! The small by Toppin gives the Knicks the 79-78 lead with 1:59 lead to play. Timeout, Boston. 

9:21 p.m.: Two-point game. A tremendous block gets the Knicks going in transition which results in an and-1 for Obi Toppin. 

9:16 p.m: RJ Barrett with the flush. That’s his first points of the game and it’s a four-point game now (71-67) with 5:39 to play. 

9:12 p.m: Back to the action.

Robert Williams makes his presence felt on both ends early. First, the dunk off the pass from Marcus Smart and then the block on former Celtic Kemba Walker.

Then, Jayson Tatum knocks down a three which forces the Knicks to call time out. Celtics lead 67-58 with 8:36 to play in the period

Halftime – Knicks 54, Celtics 58

8:50 p.m: The Knicks finished the half on a strong push to get right back in it. Brown has 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting for Boston while Randle leads the Knicks with 22 on 7-for-13 from the floor. Tatum has nine points but is 0-for-6 from long range.

8:39 p.m.: Just as I mentioned the Knicks were struggling for easy offense, Randle has taken this game over. He now has 20 points and the Knicks have cut the deficit to just two points at 50-48.

8:33 p.m.: Jayson Tatum is struggling to find the range. He has just four points on 1-for-5 shooting. Randle scores four quick points for the Knicks and it’s back to 50-43 as Boston call time. 4:36 to play in the second quarter.

8:30 p.m.: Kemba Walker drives on Payton Pritchard and works his way to the line but he can only make one. Celtics lead 50-39 with 5:40 to play in the half. New York are struggling for easy offense at the moment.

8:22 p.m.: The Celtics continue their scorching shooting to start the second quarter. Boston are 63 percent from the field and 58 percent from long range as they take a 45-34 lead with 8:53 to play in the first half. 

End of the first – Knicks 29, Celtics 35

8:14 p.m.: What a quarter for Brown! He leads all scorers with 20 points. Randle has 10 for New York. Boston are 6-for-9 from long range through one quarter.

8:11 p.m.: Brown is in complete takeover mode right now for Boston. He has 18 points in the first quarter on 7-for-9 from the floor.

8:07 p.m.: Kemba Walker’s mom approved of his first bucket with the Knicks. A straightaway triple.

8:04 p.m.: “MVP” chants for Randle at the free-throw line. He has eight points to lead the Knicks but it’s the Celtics with the 29-23 edge with 2:30 to play in the first.

7:55 p.m.: Jaylen Brown is ON FIRE! Brown was just cleared from covid protocol yesterday, he now has 14 points in the first six minutes of this game. Celtics lead 20-16.

7:51 p.m.: The long range attempts are falling early for both teams. It’s locked at 11-11 with 8:07 to play in the first quarter. 

7:46 p.m.: We are underway and the atmosphere is electric! Julius Randle gets things started with a triple for the Knicks!

Pregame

7:25 p.m.: You KNEW Spike wasn’t going to miss this one. NBA is back at Madison Square Garden to tip-off the 2021-22 season.

7:15 p.m.: Kemba is back in New York and ready to face his old friends from Boston!

6:05 p.m.: The Knicks will start Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson.

5:11 p.m.: All-Star guard Jaylen Brown will be available for the Celtics’ season opener, however, new acquisition Josh Richardson will miss the game with a migrane.

Knicks vs. Celtics start time today

• Date: Wednesday, Oct. 20
• Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. PT

The Knicks will open their 2021-22 season by hosting the Celtics at Madison Square Garden. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics

• TV Channel: ESPN, MSG Network
• Live stream: Watch ESPN, fuboTV

Knicks vs. Celtics will be broadcast live on ESPN. You can live stream the game on Watch ESPN

Knicks schedule 2021-22

(All times Eastern)

Celtics schedule 2021-22

(All times Eastern)

Source