Best Knicks vs. Celtics Player Props Tonight: Best Bets & SGP for Game 1

Mike Spector makes his Knicks vs. Celtics player prop picks ahead of tonight's NBA playoffs Game 1.

Mike Spector

Last updated: May 5, 2025 4:00 PM EDT • 4 min read

Best Knicks vs. Celtics Player Props Tonight — Pictured: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson dribbles against the Detroit Pistons in the NBA playoffs. Photo by Rick Osentoski via Imagn Images.

The Eastern Conference semifinals tip off tonight as the Boston Celtics host the New York Knicks in Game 1 at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on TNT, with the Celtics entering as 8.5-point favorites at our best sports betting sites.

The total is set at 213.5, and our Knicks vs. Celtics player props - part of our NBA picks - focus on key contributors, including Jalen Brunson, who’s expected to play a pivotal role in the opener.

We’re also highlighting frontcourt matchups in our best player prop picks for Game 1 of this marquee NBA playoffs showdown.

📈 Popular Knicks vs. Celtics player props tonight

According to BetMGM, the Over on Kristaps Porzingis point total (16.5) is the most popular bet for Game 1 tonight. The second most popular is the Under on Jayson Tatum's rebounding line (9.5), followed by Jaylen Brown to score the first field goal at +450.

⛹️ Best NBA player props for Knicks vs. Celtics tonight: Game 1

🔎 Our NEW NBA player prop odds tool can help you find the best NBA odds across legal sportsbooks in your area!

🔥 Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐

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. FanDuel offers the longest odds of our best sports betting sites.

✅ Best odds: -114 via FanDuel ($10 to win $8.77)

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🔥 Karl-Anthony Towns Under 20.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.

✅ Best odds: -105 via DraftKings ($10 to win $9.52)

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🔥 Al Horford Over 1.5 3-pointers ⭐⭐

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.

✅ Best odds: +145 via BetMGM ($10 to win $14.50)

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🚀 Best same-game parlay (SGP)

🧪 Want to build your own SGP? Use our parlay calculator to find the best odds for any same-game parlay.

💡 More NBA expert picks

📡 How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics live Game 1

📅 Monday, May 5
🕗 7 p.m. ET
📍 TD Garden (Boston)
📺 TNT, truTV | 🛜 Max

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Written By:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”