The NBA Summer League is in full swing in Las Vegas as each organization takes a close look at the next class of talent and evaluates who could make a difference moving forward. The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks will face off tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The Celtics are five-point favorites and -218 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of the contest. The Knicks enter as +180 underdogs on the Moneyline, and the game total is set at O/U 177 total points.
Celtics vs. Knicks Preview, Prediction
The Celtics produced a convincing 92-78 victory over the Grizzlies in their first summer league matchup. Third year forward Jordan Walsh led the team in scoring with 17 points. Last year’s first-round pick, Baylor Scheierman, struggled and finished with eight points, five rebounds, and four assists while shooting 2-for-14 from the floor and 1-for-8 from beyond the three-point arc. There were some nice flashes from this year’s first-round pick, Hugo Gonzales, who finished with 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds while showcasing some high-level defense. Kenny Lofton Jr. also dropped 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
6-foot-10 big man Charles Bassey was a late addition to the Celtics’ summer league roster but showcased what he can do. The 24-year-old finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench while adding a pair of blocks and successfully anchoring the defense. Kendall Brown, Isaiah Wong, Amari Williams, and Max Shulga are also some names to keep an eye on who showed some intriguing flashes in their limited minutes.
The Knicks were on the other side of a decisive result, falling to the Pistons 104-86 in their summer league opener. New York struggled to hit shots, shooting just 40.0% from the floor, 22.2% on three-point attempts, and connecting on 50.0% of its free throw attempts.
Pacome Dadiet led the team in scoring with 17 points while MarJon Beauchamp added 15. Tyler Kolek primarily ran the offense and finished with 10 points and eight assists, but shot just 4-for-11 from the floor and missed all five of his three-point attempts. Kevin McCuller was the lone other player to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists, but also struggled with his efficiency. Mohamed Diawara added seven points and seven rebounds off the bench while Dink Pate finished with six points and six rebounds. New York will be hoping for each of these names to show some progress in the second summer league matchup.
Celtics vs. Knicks Pick: Celtics -5 (-110)
Anything can happen in a one-game setting, but it feels like oddsmakers are favoring the right side in this matchup. Boston has the framework of a high-level defensive team that is not often seen in the summer league. Gonzales was a tone-setting defender in his debut, which matched his overseas reputation. Expect this to translate in the second matchup, with Walsh and Bassey also making a huge impact on this side of the floor.
New York had its offensive struggles against Detroit and I expect more of the same in this matchup. Kolek turned the ball over five times and is still working through some growing pains as he prepares for his second NBA season. The Knicks’ summer league is pretty starved for creation outside of this, and their struggles to run effective offense feel like a growing theme more than a one-game struggle.
I am backing the Celtics to win outright and cover the five-point spread. I’d expect a bounce-back shooting performance from Scheierman and for Boston’s defense to wreak havoc. I wouldn’t be shocked if this matchup even slipped into blowout territory.
