The NBA season will get underway on Tuesday, Oct. 22, with a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview. The new-look New York Knicks will head to Massachusetts to take on the defending champion Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. ET.
New York was busy in the trade market over the summer, acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Boston largely stood pat, which was to be expected — this team won 64 games last season before defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
This will be a competitive matchup worth watching all year, and it should serve as an excellent appetizer as we dive into another NBA season. Here are the latest Knicks vs Celtics odds, plus my best bets and predictions for this must-see showdown.
Knicks vs Celtics Odds
NBA odds are current as of Thursday, Oct. 17, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Knicks (+180) vs Celtics (-218)
- Spread: Knicks +5 (-110) vs Celtics -5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 223 (-110) / Under 223 (-110)
Knicks vs Celtics Prediction
Celtics 119, Knicks 112
Part of what made the Celtics so dangerous in 2023-24 was their ability to win on either end of the floor. Boston ranked first in offense and third in defense, and they were often capable of adapting on the fly if a certain matchup required more or less attention in either regard.
After being eliminated in the second round last season, the Knicks shored up both fronts, bringing in Bridges from Brooklyn and Towns from Minnesota to build around a core led by Jalen Brunson. Bridges is a two-way stud who can defend virtually every position, while Towns is arguably the league’s best sharpshooting big.
Adding Towns should dramatically improve this team’s spacing, and thus, create an even more potent offense. Whether it’ll be enough to take down Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, though, remains to be seen.
Perhaps New York will get the best of Boston a bit later in the season, but I can’t see the Knicks pulling off the upset on ring night. Expect a hard-fought contest, but look for the Celtics to come out on top.
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Knicks vs Celtics Best Bets
Celtics -5 (-110) vs Knicks
Boston should win this one, but the Knicks have the talent to catch them off guard and keep things close. There will likely be some unforced errors — Towns was just traded to New York in early October — but this offense can be one of the league’s best, and we should get a taste of that on opening night.
Questions remain about New York’s bench, though, which is one big reason why I like the Celtics in this spot. Boston is one of the deepest teams in the NBA, while the Knicks were forced to part with some of their most valuable pieces to acquire Bridges and Towns.
- Check out our Timberwolves vs Lakers Predictions & Best Bets.
New York’s starters will receive an expectedly heavy load, but even if Brunson and Towns’ minutes are staggered, the Knicks will need someone else to create. There aren’t many reliable options on the bench, so someone will need to step up and make a leap this season.
There are far fewer questions about Boston at this stage, so side with the defending champions to cover this 5-point spread with your NBA bet of the day.
Over 223 Points (-110)
The Celtics and Knicks played at two of the slowest paces in the NBA last season, so despite running efficient offenses, they didn’t always put up massive scoring totals. New York, in particular, was guilty of this.
However, that may change as we enter the 2024-25 campaign. Tom Thibodeau is notorious for his sluggish offenses, but this is arguably the best unit he’s ever had, and he’ll need to take full advantage of his stars to compete with the likes of the Celtics.
I’m counting on this being a high-scoring game, so I’m comfortable taking the Over at 223 points.
