Will the Celtics start their title defense with a win? Here's what the story says

Will the Celtics start their title defense with a win? Here's what the story says originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics open the 2024-25 NBA season and their title defense on Tuesday night when they host the rival New York Knicks at TD Garden.

The C's will raise their 2024 NBA Championship banner and collect their rings before playing a Knicks team that many experts rank as the second-best in the Eastern Conference behind Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns took over in the off-season.

If history is any indication, there's a good chance the Celtics beat the Knicks and start their championship defense on the right foot.

The Celtics have won five straight season-opening games as defending champions, their last loss coming in October 1974. The last time the C's were defending champions on opening night, they defeated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 90-85 on October 28, 2008 .

Overall, the Celtics are 15-2 on opening night after a championship season. Here are the results of the last five such occasions.

• 1976-77 Celtics: Defeated the Indiana Pacers 129-122 (OT)

• 1981-82 Celtics: Defeated Washington Bullets (now Wizards) 124-100

• 1984-85 Celtics: Defeated Detroit Pistons 130-123

• 1986-87 Celtics: Defeated Washington Bullets (now Wizards) 120-102

• 2008-09 Celtics: Defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 90-85

None of the Celtics teams listed above became champions again this season. In fact, the C's haven't repeated as a league champion since Bill Russell's two seasons as player/coach in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

Overall, the defending champions are 19-5 on the opening night of this century. The last two defending champions to lose their season openers were the Warriors in 2017-18 and the Lakers in 2020-21.

According to NBC Sports Boston statistician Dick Lipe, the Celtics are 48-30 in their history on opening night, including nine straight home wins.

The Celtics went 4-1 against the Knicks last season, including a 108-104 victory on opening night at Madison Square Garden.

They will look to build on their recent success against the Knicks on Tuesday night. The meeting point is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.