NEW YORK – The Boston Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed for the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference play-offs when they visit the New York Knicks on April 9 (April 10, Singapore time).

Boston (54-25) will secure the No. 2 seed with one more victory or any New York (51-28) loss. The Knicks can finish as high as second but are also battling with the Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29) to see who will finish as the third and fourth seeds.

The April 9 game will also mark the first time Jayson Tatum has played in New York since he ruptured his Achilles tendon in a road play-off game against the Knicks last season.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it,” Tatum said, after he scored 23 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets on April 7. “I’m not thrilled to go back and play there. Last time I played there, obviously, it was a traumatic experience for me.”

Tatum is averaging 21.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 15 games this season since he returned from his Achilles injury. Boston have a 13-2 record in those 15 contests.

The Celtics are scheduled to face the New Orleans Pelicans at home on April 10. Tatum has not suited up for a back-to-back this season, but following the April 7 win, Tatum confirmed that he planned to play on April 9 against New York.

“Obviously, I knew at some point I would have to get over that hurdle and play there (Madison Square Garden) again,” he said. “I decided to come back and play, so I’m not necessarily skipping certain games. I can’t play back-to- backs right now, but I decided to come back and play, so it’s just another game on the schedule.”

New York are coming off the 108-105 victory at the Atlanta Hawks on April 6, which stretched the team’s winning streak to three games. The Knicks have won five in a row at home.

Jalen Brunson is New York’s leading scorer (26 points per game). Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Brunson tossed in 30 points against Atlanta, when Towns had 21 poi...