Fireworks will be in full display when the defending champions Boston Celtics host the new-look and fellow title-contenders New York Knicks to open the new NBA season this Tuesday at the TD Garden.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Fresh off its impressive 2024 run, the Celtics remain the odds-on favorite to win it all next year while the Knicks are close behind at +750 to lift the crown.
- Boston also heads into this game as the 5.5-point favorites as per the latest Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks betting lines.
- The Celtics have won five of its past six encounters although it was the Knicks that came up victorious in their last matchup.
- Since their last matchup, New York have made some personnel changes acquiring All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns, defensive menace Mikal Bridges, and sharpshooter Landry Shamet.
Will the new-look Knicks play spoiler to the Celtics banner celebration or will the latter pick up where they left off from last season? That remains to be seen but here’s how both teams look to kick-off the new season.
Boston Celtics
vs
New York Knicks
DraftKings
NBA
Odds for
October 22
Moneyline
- Boston Celtics: -225
- New York Knicks: +185
Spread
- Boston Celtics: -5.5 (-110)
- New York Knicks: +5.5 (-110)
Over/Under (Total)
- OVER 221.5 (-110)
- UNDER 221.5 (-110)
Boston Celtics
vs
New York Knicks
Injury Report
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- Kristaps Porzingis – Foot – Out
New York Knicks Injury Report
- Mitchell Robinson – Foot – Out
- Kevin McCullar – Left Knee – Out
- Precious Achiuwa - Left Hamstring - Out
Best NBA odds for
Boston Celtics
vs
New York Knicks
- The Boston Celtics have covered the spread in three of their previous six encounters against the New York Knicks. The best Boston Celtics odds to cover the -5.5 spread are available on BetMGM at -110.
- The New York Knicks have beaten the Boston Celtics in dominant fashion in their last visit in the TD Garden. FanDuel offers the best odds for the Knicks to win outright at +188.
- The under hit in three of the previous five encounters between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The best Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks odds for the under market total are available on DraftKings at -108.
Why will the
Boston Celtics
cover the spread?
Albeit the departure of guard Svi Mykhailiuk, the championship core of the Boston Celtics remains intact and that could be a pivotal advantage in this upcoming matchup against the New York Knicks.
New York is undergoing a major transitional phase that saw them letting go some of its previous superstars and adding the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and several others.
While the additions of Towns and Bridges will certainly pose a threat to the Celtics back-to-back championship aspirations, it will likely take time for the Knicks to adjust and that is something the home team can exploit here.
- It is also worth noting that the Celtics have won five of their six matchups with the Knicks by an average margin of 11.4 points.
- Even more impressive is Boston’s ability to cover the spread, having done so 51 times in 82 regular season games in the 2023-2024 NBA season.
One thing head coach Joe Mazzulla and the Celtics have to do here is to start strong and impose its dominance early.
Celtics look to build momentum against Knicks
In their final preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, the Celtics found themselves down by 19 early in the game and had to play catchup all throughout.
Coincidentally, the same thing happened the last time New York and Boston faced as the latter found themselves down by 28 heading into the fourth.
Should the Celtics start strong and close out on the Knicks shooters, there could be value towards backing Boston to cover the -5.5 spread at these current odds, especially since they are not only playing at home but also raising its 18th championship banner in this game.
Why will the
New York Knicks
cover the spread?
There are plenty of things to love about the New York Knicks this season but none bigger than the acquisition of All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.
Although some would argue that the Knicks gave up a lot in acquiring Towns, the move has certainly catapulted them into championship contender status.
With Towns at helm and the additions of Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, New York now has plenty of offensive options to take off the offensive load from spitfire guard Jalen Brunson who was nothing but spectacular last season.
- It is also worth noting that the Knicks manhandled the Celtics the last time they faced, leading by as many as 31 points and that’s without their new acquisitions.
- Even more impressive is the fact that the Knicks did it on the road with forward Kristaps Porzingis playing for the Celtics.
With Porzingis out in this game, Towns and the Knicks’ frontcourt players will have plenty of opportunities to lord it over down low, making the +5.5 spread at these current odds a possible steal.
Knicks face challenge in stopping Celtics' offense
However, New York will have to find ways to put a stop to the Celtics well-oiled offense, which ranked second in the league last season.
Should the Knicks contain the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, picking them to cover the +5.5 spread at -110 on the road is something worth considering, especially since they now have other players to shoulder the scoring.
It is also worth noting that like the Celtics, the Knicks also covered the spread more than 50% of the time last season, having done so 49 times.
Final
Boston Celtics
vs
New York Knicks
NBA Prediction: Boston Celtics -5.5 (-110)
Had it not been for the acquisition of Karl Anthony-Towns, the spread could be wider here considering the firepower of the Boston Celtics on both ends of the floor.
With the addition of Towns, the New York Knicks are adding someone who can light it up from both inside and outside and that could pose a problem for the Celtics here.
Nevertheless, I am still picking Boston to make the necessary adjustments and cover the spread to start off their title-retention bid on a strong note.
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