Knicks vs Celtics Predictions

**SBR Andy** · 05-03-25, 10:29 AM

Knicks vs Celtics AI series prediction from ChatGPT:

Celtics in five games (+220 FanDuel)

"The Celtics enter this series not just as favorites but as a well-oiled machine that has consistently exposed the Knicks’ weaknesses all season. Boston swept the regular-season series 4-0, largely by overwhelming New York’s defense with efficient, balanced scoring. Jayson Tatum torched the Knicks for 33.5 points per game on 53.5% shooting, while Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis took turns exploiting mismatches.

The Celtics’ top-five defense will now hone in on Jalen Brunson, who carried New York through the first round but will face much stiffer resistance from Boston’s perimeter stoppers, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Even if Brunson continues his playoff heroics, the Knicks’ secondary scorers - OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns - must drastically outperform their tepid regular-season efforts against Boston. That’s a tall order against a Celtics team that not only limits opponents’ efficiency but rarely beats itself, ranking among the NBA’s best in turnover rate and defensive rebounding.

For New York to have a real chance, it'll need to grind the game to a halt, control the glass, and hope Towns can stretch Boston’s bigs away from the rim to open driving lanes. The Knicks' best hope lies in slowing the Celtics’ pace and turning this into a physical, half-court slugfest. But even then, the Celtics’ versatility and depth - boasting one of the league’s most productive benches - should keep them comfortably ahead."

**SBR Andy** · 2025-05-05T15:07:37+00:00

Knicks vs Celtics Game 1 prediction from SBR's Isaiah Sirois:

Over 212 points (-110 Fanatics)

"This year’s Celtics aren’t quite as efficient as last year’s, but they have had the Knicks’ number. Last season, Boston led the NBA in net rating (+11.7) with the league’s most efficient offense (122.2). This season, they ranked second in both metrics (+9.4 and 119.5). Still, that was good enough for a 4-0 season sweep of the Knicks.

The opening round of the playoffs was encouraging for both sides of this matchup. The Celtics overcame some injury concerns in a gentleman’s sweep of the Orlando Magic, while the Knicks outlasted a challenge from the Detroit Pistons and scored a trio of wins on the road, thanks to huge performances from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson.

While previous versions of the Knicks have been known for their impressive defensive performances, that doesn’t hold for this one. The Knicks were ninth in defensive rating last year (112.4) and regressed to 13th this year (113.3). New York’s ability to limit opposing teams’ offensive output stemmed more from a slower pace, which the team increased from 95.9 to 97.6 this regular season.

The Knicks and Celtics met four times in the regular season in games that saw final totals of 241, 235, 223, and 236. I will freely admit that playoff basketball is different, both in pace and defensive intensity, but the total of 212.5 or so certainly feels lower than it should be, especially with a well-rested Boston team having accounted for the majority of the scoring in all four contests.

I suspect that head coach Joe Mazzulla will look to establish a slightly faster pace tonight after the last series against Orlando saw the Magic force a slower one. Let’s lock in the Over 212 at Fanatics for the half-point discount relative to the rest of the market as we hope for another high-scoring game from Boston and New York."

**SBR Andy** · 2025-05-05T15:10:42+00:00

Knicks vs Celtics Game 1 player prop picks from SBR's Mike Spector:

Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists (-114 FanDuel)

"Brunson is coming off a 40-point performance in Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons. That's seven 40-point playoff games with the Knicks, tied for the most in franchise history.

Brunson scored 30 or more points in five of the six games in the Pistons series, which makes his O/U of 27.5 points in Game 1 seem curious at first glance. It makes sense, though, and I'm expecting a harassing defensive combination from Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, turning Brunson into more of a facilitator.

Brunson has gone over this projected assist total in all six playoff games this year, and he finished with a game-high 10 assists in the last regular season meeting with the Celtics."

Karl-Anthony Towns Under 20.5 points (-105 DraftKings)

"The Celtics are big 8.5-point and -380 moneyline favorites in Game 1, which does not bode well for Towns’ scoring output.

In New York’s wins this postseason, Towns averaged 22.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and shot 53% from 3-point range. He has averaged 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in the losses while making 33% of his shots from beyond the arc.

Boston has allowed an NBA-best 93.6 points per game this postseason and an Eastern Conference-best 42.2% from the field, so I expect Towns will struggle early in this series."

 Al Horford Over 1.5 made 3-pointers (+145 BetMGM)

"New York was effective in the limited minutes it played Towns and Mitchell Robinson simultaneously against the Pistons. If the Knicks utilize their “two-big” lineup more in Game 1, look for Boston to combat with Horford stretching the defense more.

Horford has averaged one made 3-pointer per game this postseason and shot 50% from beyond the arc in three regular-season games against the Knicks. This is a great value play on Horford to make two-plus 3-pointers for the seventh time in 12 games."

**SBR Andy** · 2025-05-06T12:27:12+00:00

The Knicks come back from 20 points down to win 108-105 in overtime in Game 1.

Updated series odds via DraftKings: Celtics -340 / Knicks +270