BOSTON — To say the Celtics have dominated the Knicks over the past two seasons would be an understatement.

New York lost all four of its meetings with Boston this season by an average of 16.5 points per game. That came after the Celtics won four of the teams’ five matchups during their 2023-24 championship season.

It’s more than enough reason for the defending NBA champs to feel confident heading into their Eastern Conference semifinals pairing with the Knicks, which tips off tonight.

Just don’t tell that to Boston, which isn’t taking anything – or anyone – for granted at this point of the season.

“This is the playoffs. So everything we did in the regular season doesn’t really mean a whole lot now,” Celtics guard Derrick White said. “Not like we get to start up 1-0. So just understand it’s the playoffs. They’re here for a reason.”

A big part of the reason why Boston is on guard against New York is the play of All-Star Jalen Brunson. The recently named NBA clutch player of the year is averaging 31.5 points, 8.2 assists and four rebounds per game this postseason.

It includes a 40-point performance and what proved to be the winning 3-pointer in New York’s 116-113 Game 6 closeout win over Detroit.

“Big-time player. Seems to make all the big plays for them,” White said. “And he’s had an unbelievable year. And obviously this playoffs he’s taken it to another level. So it’s going to be a group effort to try to slow him down, and to understand that he’s a really good player, he’s going to make tough shots, but just trying to make it as difficult as we can for 48 minutes and just have a lot of different guys to try to slow him down.”

While Boston swept the season series with New York, it took a 119-117 overtime win that included late 3-pointers by Kristaps Porzingis and Jayson Tatum for the Celtics to prevail in the final regular season meeting on April 8.

Brunson believes how they learned and adjusted from the first three meetings showed up in that game. But he also knows progress isn’t enough at this point.

“I feel like we played better in that game. … Obviously still not getting it done,” Brunson said. “Played and competed better than the first three games, so that’s something we can look at and build off of.”

Sunday’s games:

PACERS 121, CAVS 112: Tyrese Haliburton made a go-ahead 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter that sparked a decisive burst for the Indiana Pacers, who stunned the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Haliburton finished with 22 points and 13 assists. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 33 points.

WARRIORS 103, ROCKETS 89: Stephen Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, Buddy Hield made nine 3-pointers and scored 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors advanced to the Western Conference semifinals with a win over the Houston Rockets in Game 7. The Warriors will face the Timberwolves Tuesday night in Minnesota. Amen Thompson led Houston with 24 points.