Brown’s message didn’t come across as a challenge. It sounded more like encouragement, the words of a caring teammate looking to empower one of his brothers.

The Celtics now own a four-game lead over the Knicks and the head-to-head tiebreaker for the two-seed in the East (Boston still trails Cleveland by six games for the top seed). The two teams will square off one final time in the regular season when they meet at Madison Square Garden on April 8.

Built to compete with the Eastern Conference’s elite during the offseason, the New York Knicks are trying to still figure out how to break into the top group after the past two games.

The Celtics starters haven't been at their best throughout this season, but they're looking to clean up their play with the playoffs creeping closer.

Jan., the Boston Celtics looked like a talented but unfocused team playing well below its potential. Feb.? Different story. Sunday’s 118-105 win over the rival New York Knicks was Boston’s fifth consecutive victory — all by double digits — and ninth in its last 10 games dating to Jan.