The Celtics are hosting the Knicks on Tuesday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Boston is favored by 1.5 points and this game carries a total of 231.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup and provide a pick for the game.
Celtics vs. Knicks preview, prediction
After a rocky start to the season with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined, the Celtics have found their groove. Boston has won three of its last four, including wins over the Pistons and the Cavaliers. Overall, the Celtics are 11-9 and rank 11th in net rating this season. The victory over Cleveland this past Sunday was especially impressive, as the Celtics were on the road, playing their second game in two nights and without both Derrick White (calf) and Neemias Queta (ankle). These two starters lead Boston in plus/minus this season and they will return for tonight’s marquee matchup vs. the Knicks in Boston, as both White and Queta are listed as probable.
Both these players are great defenders and having White and Queta available is a must for the Celtics if they want to slow down Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, respectively. Offensively, White has been shooting the ball much better as of late after a rough start to the season, and so is his backcourt mate in Payton Pritchard, who just erupted for a season-high 42 points with White inactive vs. the Cavaliers this past Sunday.
Most importantly, Jaylen Brown has been outstanding as the Celtics’ centerpiece with Tatum on the shelf. In his last five starts, Brown is averaging 30.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. The former NBA Finals MVP ranks fourth in the NBA in usage rate (35.3%) and Brown shouldn’t disappoint tonight on his home floor and facing the rivaled Knicks, who defeated the Celtics by 10 points in the second game of this season and who eliminated Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.
New York is off to a great start this season, with a 13-6 record and ranking fourth in net rating. Brunson has been excellent, leading the team with 28.5 points and 6.2 assists per game, and Towns has been strong, averaging 21.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The Knicks have won four straight, but they will continue to be without OG Anunoby (hamstring) tonight, who leads the club in plus/minus and is New York’s best defender. The Knicks’ defensive rating is 9.4 points worse with Anunoby off the court this season and having him missing this time around vs. Boston is a notable hit for New York, as Anunoby was a big part of the Knicks defeating the Celtics in the second game of the season, as he finished a +10 in the box score.
Another concern for New York tonight is that this game will be on the road, and competing away from Madison Square Garden has been the Knicks’ Achilles heel this season. While New York is 13-6, the team is only 3-5 on the road and those three victories came against the Mavericks, Hornets and Nets, all teams who are sub .500 that rank bottom-10 in net rating this season. The Knicks’ road woes are very real and they now head to the hostile TD Garden in Boston, where the Celtics are 6-4 this season.
Celtics vs. Knicks pick, best bet
This Celtics vs. Knicks matchup should be another dog fight between the division rivals that likely will come down to the wire. While New York has the much better record than Boston, the Knicks’ troubles as a road team are hard to ignore and the Celtics should even this season series at one win apiece tonight with a victory on their home floor.
As noted above, Boston is 6-4 at home and New York is just 3-5 on the road. Attacking the Celtics to win this game on the moneyline is smart at a reasonable -112 price and doing it quickly is wise, as after opening as the underdog for this matchup, Boston is now the favorite and this line is likely to keep moving in its favor.
