Premier NBA action continues on Oct. 25, when the Boston Celtics travel to Madison Square Garden for a meeting with the New York Knicks.
Boston and New York are considered the best teams the Atlantic Division has to offer this season, so this is expected to be a meaningful showdown. Between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson, stars will be on display, too.
Here are the latest odds and best bets for Celtics vs Knicks.
Celtics vs Knicks NBA Odds
NBA odds used for these best bets are current as of Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. ET and were found at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Celtics (-166) • Knicks (+140)
- Spread: Celtics -3.5 (-110) • Knicks +3.5 (-110)
- Total Points: Over 224.5 (-110) • Under 224.5 (-110)
Celtics vs Knicks Prediction
Celtics 116, Knicks 103
Before the Celtics traded for Holiday, I had the Knicks squeaking out at a home win to open the season. And while there are still question marks about how this newly-constructed team will perform through the early part of the year, I’d be foolish to go against Boston here.
New York had an excellent campaign in 2022-23, but Brown and Tatum are arguably better than any player on the Knicks’ roster. To top it off, the Celtics added two All-Star-caliber talents this offseason in Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
It could take a while before we see Boston live up to its full potential, but it won’t take a full-strength effort to take down New York. Look for the Celtics to live up to the hype and earn a decisive win over the Knicks.
Celtics vs Knicks Best Bets
Celtics -3.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
Boston went 46-36 against the spread in 2022-23, and their strength showed up on the road as well, posting a 25-16 record away from home. The Celtics did struggle with the Knicks, going 1-3 in their regular-season series, but they’ve also dramatically improved since then.
Expect the Celtics to overwhelm New York and make this your NBA bet of the day.
Under 224.5 (-110)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
The strength of this Knicks team was its offense in 2022-23, ranking third in offensive rating. However, New York also played at the sixth-slowest pace, so it wasn’t always involved in the highest-scoring games.
- See where the Celtics and Knicks stand in the latest NBA Eastern Conference odds.
The Knicks are entering the year with great continuity, but I fully expect the Celtics to be the league’s No. 1 defense in 2023-24. It may take some time for Boston to find its footing on offense with the additions of Holiday and Porziņģis, but this is a plug-and-play defense that should flourish from Day 1.
