The Celtics host the Knicks for Game 5 of this semifinals series in Boston on Wednesday. The Knicks hold a 3-1 series lead and can eliminate the Celtics with a win. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Celtics are favored by 4.5 points for Game 5 and this game carries a total of 207.5 points.
Below, I break down Game 5 between the Celtics and the Knicks and give a pick for the game via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Celtics vs. Knicks preview, prediction
In Game 4, the Celtics yet again blew a double-digit lead and lost. Boston has led by as many as 14 points in every game of this series vs. the Knicks but trails this best-of-seven 1-3 and faces elimination in Game 5 in Boston on Wednesday.
Jalen Brunson’s heroics continued for the Knicks in Game 4, as the guard led the way with 39 points. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges all scored 20+ points. In the loss for Boston, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown scored 23 and 20 points, respectively, but it was Jayson Tatum who was the star of the show with 42 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, Tatum went down with a non-contact injury in the final minutes of the contest, which was announced as a torn Achilles yesterday. Not only does this serious injury end Tatum’s season, but it will likely cost him most of next season as well. This is truly devastating news for the Celtics and it will be interesting to see how they respond in Game 5 with Tatum missing.
Will Boston play inspired basketball and keep its season alive? Or will it roll over and decide there is no hope without Tatum? While Tatum is one of the best players in the NBA, the Celtics are still the defending champions and a deep team that knows how to win when a starter is out. Specifically with Tatum inactive this season, Boston is 9-2, including the Game 2 win over the Magic in the first round, which like tonight’s Game 5, was in Boston and in front of the Celtics faithful.
This Boston team should be extremely motivated to get a win tonight in honor of Tatum, especially Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Al Horford. With Tatum out for Game 2 vs. the Magic, Brown had his best performance of the playoffs and arguably of the season, with the wing posting 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while shooting 63% from the field. Brown is a heavily criticized player and tonight’s Game 5 is a chance for him to remind everyone that he is still the reigning NBA Finals MVP and Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
While Kristaps Porzingis (illness) has been a shell of himself this series, his playing time has increased in every game and he is the most likely candidate to start in place of Tatum. Porzingis is a great defender and if he can have an even decent showing with Tatum inactive in Game 5, it will go a long way for the Celtics, especially on the defensive end. In the six games Porzingis has started and Tatum has been out this season, Boston is 5-1 and it is allowing only 104.2 PPG.
As for the Knicks, they need Brunson to keep being their engine offensively and they need their secondary players like Anunoby and Bridges to continue shooting the ball at a high level. The problem for the Knicks is their tendency to get down big in these games against Boston, but if they can come out strong in Game 5 and avoid an early, big deficit, New York will be putting itself in a strong position to advance.
Celtics vs. Knicks pick, best bet
While coming back from 1-3 and winning this series is a very tall order for the Celtics, them rallying and pulling off a win in Game 5 in Boston feels likely. As noted above, the Celtics are 9-2 with Tatum out this season and playing at home in Boston is very important, which is evident in the Celtics being favored by 4.5 points. Plus, while these records are misleading as they mostly feature Tatum, it is worth mentioning Boston is the best team in the NBA when coming off a loss, with a 21-3 record and 19-5 record ATS. Meanwhile, the Knicks are 33-24 when coming off a win and a mediocre 27-29-1 ATS in this situation. While the Celtics could cover this -4.5 spread, going the safer route and attacking them on the moneyline at -185 is wiser tonight.
