Boston Celtics

Welcome to the Garden

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

Welcome to the Garden, where the Boston Celtics (14-42) will take on the New York Knicks (26-32) at 7:30 p.m.

The big news of the day, as reported in this space earlier by Shira Springer, is that Celtics forward Wally Szczerbiak will have season-ending ankle surgery on Thursday. Team doctor Brian McKeon will perform the surgery at New England Baptist Hospital. Szczerbiak has missed 24 games due to injury this season.

The Knicks also will be without one of their key players for much or all of the stretch run. Guard Jamaal Crawford suffered a right ankle stress fracture and could be lost for the season, according to Knicks.com.

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David Lee (ankle) and Steve Francis (knee) sat out Monday’s Knicks win over the Miami Heat. Lee is currently on the court sporting a brown pin-striped suit, so it’s a safe bet that he will not be playing tonight.

Preseason Atlantic Division pundits likely could not have predicted New York would be in the thick off the playoff hunt after 57 games, but that’s exactly where they are. The Knicks currently sit in the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference but are just two games behind New Jersey, Orlando, and Miami, who are tied for the 7th spot.

  • The Celtics will honor the late Dennis Johnson tonight. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a special pin honoring the Celtics legend. The team will present a special video tribute to Johnson before tip-off.

    Johnson died on Feb. 22 after collapsing after practice while coaching the NBDL’s Austin Toros.

  • Ryan Gomes, Rajon Rondo, and Gerald Green are currently on the court for the Celtics. Jared Jeffries is warming up for the Knicks. For you hoops junkies, the Celtics are currently warming up on the opposite end of the court from the team’s bench. Not sure if there is any reason (superstitious, technical, or otherwise) for the switch.

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