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

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Basteball Odds

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New York Knicks

The New York Knicks snatched an incredible one-point victory in Game 2 against the Celtics in Boston, with the final score reading 90-91. Despite trailing by 14 points at the end of the third quarter, the Knicks showcased stifling defense, forcing missed shots and turnovers from the Celtics. Just as he did in Game 1, Mikal Bridges came up clutch, stealing the ball from Tatum in the final seconds to secure the dramatic win.

Josh Hart led the Knicks' scoring with 23 points, adding 6 rebounds and 2 blocks to his stat line. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded an impressive double-double with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Jalen Brunson contributed 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists. However, Mikal Bridges was the undeniable game-changer, scoring all of his 14 points in the pivotal fourth quarter. This hard-fought victory gives the Knicks a commanding 2-0 series lead as they head back to New York for Game 3.

This series has been a low-scoring, defense-oriented affair, with the Knicks demonstrating remarkable resilience on both ends of the court. Notably, their three-point shooting has improved, averaging 12.5 successful three-pointers per game in the series. 

Karl-Anthony Towns has been highly effective on the glass, averaging 15 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Josh Hart has emerged as an unsung hero, averaging 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. A player prop bet on Josh Hart could be a smart move, and our prediction is for his combined Points, Assists, and Rebounds to be over 26.5 at -123.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics will be smarting from the way they squandered leads in both games of this series. Their shooting has been subpar, connecting on just 9 of 31 attempts from beyond the arc (29%) and 37 of 86 from the field overall (43%). Notably, they missed a staggering 20 shots in the fourth quarter alone.

Jayson Tatum has struggled to close out games effectively, missing crucial shots in the final minutes of both Game 1 and Game 2. He's put up 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the field and a disappointing 1-of-5 from three-point range – numbers well below his usual standards. However, he has been a force on the defensive end, averaging 15 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.

Jaylen Brown has been a consistent offensive threat, scoring 20 points in each of the last two games with good shooting efficiency. Meanwhile, Derrick White has been a reliable all-around contributor, averaging 19.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is a perfect player to bet on, and our player prop prediction for Derrick White is for his combined Rebounds and Assists to be over 9.5 at -114.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Starting Lineups

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Match Prediction & Analysis

The New York Knicks will host the Boston Celtics for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2024-25 NBA season at Madison Square Garden. Riding the momentum of two consecutive late-game victories over the Celtics, the Knicks enter Game 3 with a 2-0 series lead.

This has shaped up to be a defensive battle, with the series averaging a total of 197 points per game. The Celtics have averaged 97.5 points per contest, while the Knicks have put up an average of 99.5 points per game. Jalen Brunson has been a key offensive contributor for the Knicks, averaging 23 points per game in the series. On the boards, Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns have been forces to watch, both averaging 15 rebounds per game so far.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Player Stats