Carmelo Anthony Confronts Kevin Garnett
Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett got into an altercation earlier this season. Reuters

2012-2013 NBA Season

The New York Knicks may have been the most surprising team of the regular season, winning 54 games and finishing second in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics struggled to go 41-40, losing Rajon Rondo midway through the year. New York won the season series 3-1, including the last two meetings by a combined 34 points.

Knicks Team Stats

Points Per Game: 100.0 (11th)

Opponents Points Per Game: 95.7 (7th)

Rebounds Per Game: 40.6 (26th)

Assists Per Game: 19.3 (30th)

Celtics Team Stats

Points Per Game: 96.5 (18th)

Opponents Points Per Game: 96.7 (12th)

Rebounds Per Game: 39.3 (29th)

Assists Per Game: 22.8 (12th)

Knicks Key Players

Carmelo Anthony: If it weren’t for LeBron James and Kevin Durant, Anthony might be this year’s MVP. He's made 45 percent of his shots, despite taking 6.2 three-pointers per contest.

J.R. Smith: It’d be hard to find a more erratic player than Smith. When he drives to the basket and takes high percentage shots, New York usually wins. It’s when he gets too trigger happy from long distance that he and the team find themselves in trouble.

Celtics Key Players

Paul Pierce: The veteran’s lowest shooting percentage in nine seasons indicates that he is no longer the player that he once was. However, he still has the ability to score over 20 points a game, and he’s been a Knick killer throughout his career.

Jeff Green: The 26-year-old has emerged as another reliable scorer for Boston since the All-Star Break, increasing his scoring average by seven points. It’ll be important for him to force the Knicks to not only focus on Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Series Schedule

Game 1: at New York, Saturday, April 20, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Game 2: at New York, Tuesday, April 23, 8:00 p.m., TNT

Game 3: at Boston, Friday, April 26, 8:00 p.m., ESPN

Game 4: at Boston, Sunday, April 28, 1:00 p.m., ABC

Game 5: at New York, Wednesday, May 1, TBD

Game 6: at Boston, Friday, May 3, TBD

Game 7: at New York, Sunday, May 5, TBD

Betting Odds

New York -400, Boston +330

Prediction

New York in six

New York