Boston and New York seek a response after opening defeats
Mitchell Robinson is preparing to face his former New York Knicks teammates as a Boston Celtic on Friday, October 23, with both teams looking to recover from season-opening defeats. The game at TD Garden is scheduled for 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, in Philippine time.
Robinson said at Thursday's practice that his attention was on Boston's response to its opening loss rather than the personal significance of the opponent. Detroit overturned a 22-point second-half deficit to beat the Celtics 121–113, while the Knicks began their title defense with a 106–100 defeat to Philadelphia.
The center spent eight seasons with New York and was part of its 2026 championship team before joining Boston in the offseason. He said he had not watched the Knicks' ring ceremony because he was still processing the Celtics' loss earlier that day.
Robinson nevertheless expressed pride in his former teammates. On the New York side, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart spoke about looking forward to seeing him again, reflecting the relationships built during their championship run.
His first Boston appearance produced four points, three rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes. Friday's meeting therefore offers both a reunion and an early opportunity to improve on a difficult team debut.
The competitive context gives the occasion its immediate importance. Neither side has a regular-season victory yet, and both are addressing games that slipped away after promising stretches. The shared history adds interest, but the result will count toward their new seasons.