Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks, NBA 2024-25 Season, Today Match Prediction

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Basteball Odds

Teams Preview

Boston Celtics

The defending champions, Boston Celtics, are coming off a 4-1 series win against the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference First Round playoff series. The Celtics won Game 5, 120-89. The Celtics were led by Jayson Tatum's 35 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double, and he also had 8 assists. 

Jaylen Brown also capped off the series with a 23-point, 6-rebound game. Kristaps Porzingis played 21 minutes, scoring 9 points, while Al Horford played the most minutes off the bench, contributing 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. The Celtics held Orlando to under 100 points in each of the last three games. 

They have a tougher matchup against the New York Knicks in the Semifinal Round. The Celtics remained undefeated against the Knicks in the regular season, going 4-0. Jayson Tatum is averaging 33.5 points per game against the Knicks this season; he is the primary playmaker and contributes on both ends of the floor. 

Kristaps Porzingis, if healthy, will have a bigger role to play in protecting the rim and not allowing Karl-Anthony Towns to dominate in the paint. Towns has had a couple of 23-plus point games against the Celtics this season, and they will be wary of the offensive threat that he possesses.

In the last five games, the Celtics are averaging 106.4 points per game on offense, and on defense, they have allowed 93.6 points per game. The Celtics have been a dominant team in three-point shooting, averaging 11.8 three-pointers made per game in their last five games.

Boston Celtics Player Props Predictions

Boston Celtics Spread Predictions

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks pulled off a last-minute win over the Detroit Pistons to cap off the series 4-2. A dagger three-pointer from Jalen Brunson with 5.1 seconds left on the game clock ensured the Knicks won the series. Brunson dropped 40 points and had a 7-assist game to close out the series as the Knicks won 113-116. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby scored 25 and 22 points, respectively.

Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a 10-point, 15-rebound double-double, and Josh Hart also had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Knicks now head to Boston, facing arguably the hardest and toughest team they have encountered in the Eastern Conference this season. In the regular season, the Celtics swept the Knicks.

The Knicks will have to be spot-on with their perimeter defense and not allow the Celtics open looks from beyond the arc. When the Celtics hit under 10 three-pointers per game, they lost two games against the Magic. So, defense is crucial, and the Celtics did struggle when the Magic targeted the paint and scored from mid-range. Therefore, the Knicks might look to employ the same strategy, aiming to draw fouls and score from the interior.

Karl-Anthony Towns will have a significant workload on the offensive end, and the big man has put up good numbers against the Celtics this season, averaging 19.75 points and 12 rebounds per game. He will look to have a strong performance against the Celtics and also be key in grabbing offensive and defensive rebounds.

The Knicks on offense are averaging 108 points per game in their last six games and have allowed 106 points per game defensively. They have averaged 11 three-pointers made per game in their last six and have scored more two-pointers.

New York Knicks Player Props Predictions

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Starting Lineups

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Match Prediction & Analysis

The Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are undefeated against the Knicks this season, having swept them 4-0. At home, the Celtics hold a 7-game winning streak, while the Knicks are also on a four-game winning streak in away games.

In the last four games between the Celtics and the Knicks, the average total match points per game is 233.8. The Celtics have averaged 125 points per game and restricted the Knicks to 108.8 points per game. The Celtics are averaging a staggering 21 three-pointers made per game against the Knicks this season, while the Knicks are better at scoring from mid-range, averaging 30.75 two-pointers made per game.

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Over/Under Predictions

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Player Stats