The New York Knicks had a difficult time in their matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
With an opportunity to add a blemish to the Eastern Conference’s top record, the Knicks came out flat. The result? A blowout loss—121-90—to be exact.
The Pistons remain comfortable in the top spot. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics had an opportunity to move up a spot. It’s safe to say The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is thrilled.
Bill Simmons Reacts to the Celtics’ Jump
Hello! Pic.twitter.com/Q9gxmlEL3C
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 6, 2026
At 23-12, the Celtics have collected the second seed in the Eastern Conference, having one fewer loss than the Knicks at this time.
After defeating the Chicago Bulls on Monday with a 115-101 victory, the Celtics are going to get a night of rest on Tuesday.
They are set for a matchup against the undermanned Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night in Boston. Lately, the Celtics have been one of the hottest teams in the league, winning eight of their last 10, with four of them coming consecutively.
While it’s not a rare occurrence to see the Celtics near the top of the Eastern Conference, this year comes as a shock. Many expected Boston to have a gap year. Clearly, they are much better than anticipated.
The team had key departures from players such as Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. Jayson Tatum is still on the roster, but is currently undergoing a long period of recovery due to an Achilles injury.
With Jaylen Brown forcing his way into the league’s MVP conversation, along with Joe Mazzulla getting the best out of his talented roster, the Celtics have maintained their status as championship contenders this year.