The New York Knicks aim to continue a winning streak in a challenging situation on Monday. The Knicks visit TD Garden to take on the Boston Celtics, with New York bringing a three-game winning streak. The Knicks are 5-4 overall this season but facing a rest disadvantage on the second of a back-to-back set against a rested Boston team. The Celtics are 7-2 overall and 4-0 at home to begin the 2023-24 NBA season, and Boston also enters on a two-game winning streak.
For this game, SportsLine consensus lists Boston as 8.5-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 221.5 in the latest Celtics vs. Knicks odds. Before making any Knicks vs. Celtics picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five seasons. The model enters Week 3 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a 79-42 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Celtics and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Celtics vs. Knicks:
- Knicks vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -8.5
- Knicks vs. Celtics over/under: 221.5 points
- Knicks vs. Celtics money line: Celtics -389, Knicks +302
- New York: The Knicks are 5-2-2 against the spread this season
- Boston: The Celtics are 4-3-2 against the spread this season
- Knicks vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Knicks can cover
New York has been stellar on the road over a large sample. The Knicks have a +2.7 net rating this season, and that comes after top-five marks in the NBA last season in road net rating (+1.5) and road record (24-17). New York has stellar metrics in key areas on offense, headlined by a 34.2% offensive rebound rate that ranks in the top three of the NBA. New York also takes care of the ball, committing a turnover on only 13.3% of possessions, and Boston is in the bottom five of the league in turnovers created (12.4 per game) and steals (6.7 per game) this season.
On defense, the Knicks are outstanding, including a top-three defensive rating (104.7) in the league. New York is the best defensive rebounding team in the league, leading the NBA in defensive rebound rate (77.0%) and second-chance points allowed (10.1 per game). The Knicks are also in the top six of the NBA in free throw attempts allowed (22.7 per game), assists allowed (22.7 per game), and points allowed in the paint (45.1 per game). See which team to pick here.
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has the best statistical profile of any team in the NBA in the early part of the 2023-24 season. The Celtics lead the NBA in net rating, out-scoring opponents by more than 13 points per 100 possessions. Boston is tremendously efficient on offense, keeping pressure on opponents with multiple high-level options. The Celtics are scoring more than 1.18 points per possession, and Boston is also in the top three of the NBA in converting 57.8% of 2-point attempts. The Celtics also take care of the ball at a high level, as evidenced by a 13.4% turnover rate, and Boston’s defense is elite.
The Celtics are giving up 104.9 points per 100 possessions, and Boston is in the top three of the NBA in field goal percentage allowed (43.5%). Boston also ranks in the top five of the NBA in defensive rebound rate (74.8%), second-chance points allowed (11.4 per game), free throw attempts allowed (19.8 per game), and points allowed in the paint (43.6 per game). See which team to pick here.
How to make Knicks vs. Celtics picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 217 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Knicks vs. Celtics, and which side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model on a 79-42 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, and find out.
