The New York Knicks (5-8) head to Beantown Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET matinee with the Boston Celtics (8-3) at the TD Garden. Below, we analyze the Knicks-Celtics NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
New York has lost five in a row (0-5 against the spread), including a 106-103 loss as a 2-point road favorite at the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday. The Knicks shot better than the Cavaliers but were outrebounded and had fewer points at the foul line, in transition and in the paint. New York was simply outworked by a Cleveland team without a few starters and the players it received as part of the four-team trade involving former Rockets SG James Harden.
The Celtics are trending in the opposite direction, winning five (4-1 ATS) in a row coming into Sunday’s tilt. Boston trampled the Orlando Magic 124-97 Friday as a 4-point home favorite without its leading scorer SF Jayson Tatum. The key to Boston crushing Orlando was the discrepancy in shooting performances: The Celtics shot 51.1% from the field (the Magic 40.4%) and 40.5% from 3 (the Magic 25%).
The Celtics beat the Knicks in all three regular-season meetings last season (2-1 ATS) and have won eight of the last nine in the head-to-head series.
Knicks at Celtics: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:52 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Knicks +275 (bet $100 to win $275) | Celtics -350 (bet $350 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Knicks +8.5 (-120) | Celtics -8.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: 212.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Knicks at Celtics: Key Injuries
Knicks
- SG Alec Burks (ankle) doubtful
- C Nerlens Noel (back) probable
- PG Frank Ntilikina (knee) out
- C Mitchell Robinson (heel) probable
Celtics
- SF Jayson Tatum (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) out
- C Daniel Theis (finger) questionable
- PG Kemba Walker (knee) questionable
- C Robert Williams (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) out
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Knicks at Celtics: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Celtics 114, Knicks 98
Money line (ML)
PASS ON THE MONEY LINE. The Knicks were headed in the right direction, winning four of five before going on their current five-game losing streak. Based on how New York’s offense has played recently, we cannot back the Knicks to pull off an upset. Betting Celtics to win outright at the -350 price is bad long-term ROI.
Against the spread (ATS)
Boston’s offense sure didn’t appear to miss Tatum much after rolling up 124 points on the Magic Friday. The Celtics can score enough points against a Knicks defense that’s fallen to the 19th in defensive rating even though three of their last five losses have come against teams ranked in the bottom 10 in offensive rating.
And despite the Celtics’ defense being mediocre to start the season, Boston shouldn’t have a problem shutting down New York’s bottom-5 offense. CELTICS -8.5 (+100) is the right side.
Over/Under (O/U)
Last season’s final Celtics-Knicks regular-season meeting only went Over by 1.5 points, and it was the lowest projected total out of the previous eight contests. But, the three prior games went Under and I like this game to be low-scoring too. TAKE UNDER 212.5 (-105).
Want some action on this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.
Also see:
- Could Harden deal open up other trade targets for Boston? (Celtics Wire)
- Hoops Hype Rumors: Knicks | Celtics
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