UK start time and how to watch NBA season opener as the Celtics face the Knicks

The Boston Celtics will begin their first season as reigning NBA champions in 16 years when they take on the New York Knicks this week.

The Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals to win their first title since 2008 last campaign, being led to glory by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

And it’s the dynamic duo who will be starring in Boston again as they begin the campaign with a tough meeting against a new-look Knicks side. 

Karl-Anthony Towns headed to New York in what was the biggest trade of the summer, as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo joined the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

He will be playing alongside Jalen Brunson and fellow new arrival Mikal Bridges as they eye a Championship title following a Conference Semi-final exit last season.

The Celtics and Knicks finished first and second in the Eastern Conference in 2023/24 and the two teams will hope to be fighting at the top once again. 

Celtics vs Knicks: Date and UK start time

The NBA season opener will take place on Tuesday, October 22. 

It will be played at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm local time which is 12:30am on Wednesday morning in the UK. 

The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK. More details on how to sign up to Discovery+ and TNT Sports can be found here. 

talkSPORT and talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM

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Celtics vs Knicks: Rosters 

Boston Celtics

• Jayson Tatum 
• Jaylen Brown 
• Derrick White 
• Kristaps Porzingis 
• Al Horford
• Jrue Holiday 
• Payton Pritchard
• Sam Hauser 
• Luke Kornet
• Lonnie Walker IV
• Xavier Tillman
• Jaden Springer
• Neemias Queta 
• JD Davison
• Jordan Walsh
• Drew Peterson
• Dmytro Skapintsev
• Ron Harper Jr. 
• Anton Watson
• Jay Scrubb
• Baylor Scheierman

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New York Knicks

• Jalen Brunson 
• Karl-Anthony Towns 
• Mikel Bridges
• OG Anunoby 
• Precious Achiuwa 
• Josh Hart
• Mitchell Robinson
• Miles McBride
• Cameron Payne 
• Landry Shamet
• Chuma Okeke 
• Kevin McCullar Jr. 
• Jericho Sims
• T.J. Warren
• Jacob Toppin
• Pacome Dadiet 
• Tyler Kolek 
• Ariel Hukporti

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Celtics vs Knicks: What has been said? 

Towns joined the Knicks from the Timberwolves in the off-season, ending his nine-year spell with his old team. 

He will now work under Tom Thibodeau who was his coach in Minnesota between 2016 and 2019 too.

Discussing Thibodeau earlier this year, Towns said: “He wanted to win and he put the hours in and he put the work in.

“Playing for Thibs was watching someone who truly loves what they do and puts all their passion, and their life mission is being a best coach they can be, and you gotta respect that.

“I appreciate him even more now that I’m older and we’ve been able to talk at a different level, maturity. I got nothing but good things to say about him.

“He’s been great to talk to, especially now in my life and he’s one hell of a coach.”