December is always a fun time to watch NBA action. All the rust from the earliest games of the season has fallen off, stars are getting in rhythm, and football is winding down, so there are more opportunities for basketball to take the spotlight. Pair that with a couple of exciting teams, and you’ve got a must-watch matchup like the Eastern Conference showdown coming to NBA on NBC this Tuesday. 

How to Watch

Watch NBA on NBC on NBC and streaming on Peacock. 

The December 2 installment of Coast 2 Coast Tuesdays on NBC and Peacock will kick off with the New York Knicks heading to Boston to face the Celtics, as both teams pursue an NBA title they just missed at the end of last season. Let’s take a closer look at the matchup. 

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How can you watch the Knicks vs. Celtics on NBA on NBC Coast 2 Coast Tuesday?

The New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics will tip off at 8 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston. You can catch the action live on NBC or stream the game live on Peacock, then stick around for even more NBA fun. The second game of the night, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors, tips off at 11 p.m. ET.

What to expect from the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics NBA on NBC Coast 2 Coast Tuesday game

While neither team has been dominant so far this season, both the Knicks and the Celtics are in the current, very early playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, with the Knicks in particular standing out as a top team. They’re offense is clicking, and Jayson Tatum is still out in Boston, so it’s New York’s game to lose, right?

Not so fast. While the Knicks are already in double-digit wins on the season, their road record this year hasn’t been all that great, and the Garden is not a hospitable arena for visiting teams. Plus, as good as their offense has been, their defense leaves a bit to be desired. Karl-Anthony Towns has been killing it as a rebounder so far this season, but New York is still allowing too many points-per-game, leading to shootouts like the 140-132 victory the Knicks landed over the Heat in mid-November. 

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So, who excels at defense in the Eastern Conference? The Boston Celtics, who have one of the league’s best defenses. Their record isn’t as impressive as the Knicks’, but the Celtics know how to slow teams down, and given the way New York’s been playing, that’s exactly what they’ll need to pull out a win. So it’s anyone’s game as we head toward tipoff.Â