Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Jan. 6, 2022

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will resume on Thursday night with a compelling Eastern Conference matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Coverage begins from Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Celtics 112, Knicks 106

Best Bets

Celtics ML (-110) at PointsBet

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Predictions

After finishing fourth in the East with a record of 41-31 SU last year, New York briefly kept that same ball rolling with an excellent start to this season, as the Knicks kicked things off with an impressive 7-4 SU and 6-5 ATS run– which included tough victories over the Sixers (2), Bucks, Celtics, Bulls.

The Knicks have looked like a shell of that squad since their opening stretch though, considering New York dwells at 11-16 SU and ATS across the last 27 games – despite getting tagged as favorites in 16 of those contests.

On the other hand, Boston stumbled out to a head-scratching start to the new season, as the Celtics opened with a 7-8 SU and 9-6 ATS aberration, considering Boston was favored in nine of those matchups, lost eight of them SU – yet still managed to claim nine victories ATS during that timeframe.

Evaluating the Celtics has only become more difficult since their opening stretch though, considering Boston is just 11-11 SU and 10-11-1 ATS across the last 22 games – despite claiming upset victories in three contests and getting tagged as favorites in 14 events during that span.

I’ll take the points with Boston here, as the Knicks are 7-11 SU and 8-10 ATS across their latest 18-game stretch, while averaging just 102.8 PPG during that timeframe – setting the stage for a tough home matchup against a Celtics squad that has racked up 111+ PTS in four of their last seven games.

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Betting Odds

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Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Betting Resources

• Matchup: Atlantic
• Date: Thursday, January 6, 2022
• Venue: Madison Square Garden
• Location: New York, New York
• TV-Time: TNT - 7:30 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 18-20
• ATS: 19-18-1
• O/U: 16-21-1

After finishing seventh in the East with a record of 36-36 SU last year, the Celtics posted a similarly underwhelming start to this season, as Boston kicked things off with a pedestrian 7-8 SU and 9-6 ATS run – and seemingly remain trapped in that rut, considering the Celtics are just 11-11 SU and 10-11-1 ATS since their opening stretch.

The Celtics can’t snap out of their slump until their shooting improves though, considering Boston ranks 20th in offensive efficiency and 24th in effective field-goal percentage (1.058 OE, 51.1% EFG), resulting in an underwhelming average of 108.2 PPG – which typically isn’t good enough to contend with upper-tier squads in the East.

New York Knicks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 18-20
• ATS: 17-21
• O/U: 16-22

New York’s outstanding success may have been the league’s biggest surprise last season, as the Knicks finished fourth in the East with an impressive tally of 41-31 SU – before getting completely outmatched by Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs.

The Knicks haven’t caught anybody off guard this year though, considering the Knicks rank 11th in the East SU with a record of 18-20 SU and 12th ATS with a record of 17-21 – despite getting tagged as favorites in 24 of those matchups.

The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five games. (AP)

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Head-to-Head

The Knicks won two-of-three regular-season matchups against Boston last year, with all three of those contests staying well under the total set for Thursday’s affair at an average of 189.3 PPG.

The Knicks and Celtics split a pair of high-scoring contests to start this season though, with both of those matchups going over the total at a lofty average of 246.5 PPG.

Key Players to Watch

• BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (25.6 PPG, 8.6 REB, 3.8 AST)
• BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (24.3 PPG, 6.1 REB, 2.7 AST)
• NYK: Julius Randle - PF (19.6 PPG, 10.1 REB, 4.9 AST)
• NYK: RJ Barrett - SG (15.7 PPG, 5.6 REB, 2.2 AST)

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Betting Conclusion

After posting a tough home win over the Pacers on Tuesday night (W, 104-94), the Knicks enter Thursday’s contest as narrow home favorites over the visiting Celtics – marking the eighth time New York has been favored across the last nine games.

I’ll take the points with the Celtics here, as despite the Knicks sitting at 4-2 SU and ATS in their last six games, New York averaged just 96.7 PPG across that window, which consisted of matchups against the Pistons, Thunder, Hawks, Wolves, Raptors, and Pacers – while Boston is finally cranking up the heat offensively, having scored 111+ PTS in four of the last seven games.

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks Betting Trends

• The Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
• The Knicks are 4-2 ATS in their last five games.
• The total has gone UNDER in five of the last eight Celtics' games.
• The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six Knicks' games.

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