The Boston Celtics (54-25) and New York Knicks (51-28) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video.
The Knicks are 4.5-point favorites over the Celtics on the spread (Knicks -4.5), with the over/under set at 215.5 total points. New York is a -175 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Boston is +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Celtics vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, April 9.
Celtics vs Knicks Prediction, Pick
- Celtics vs Knicks pick: Knicks -4.5 (-110)
My Knicks vs Celtics best bet is on New York to cover the spread (-4.5). Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Celtics vs Knicks Odds
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4.5 -110 | 215.5 -115o / -105u | +145 |
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4.5 -110 | 215.5 -115o / -105u | -175 |
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Celtics vs Knicks NBA Preview
The Celtics and Knicks are both coming off meaningful wins heading into tonight.
The Knicks rallied to beat the Hawks on Monday, and the Celtics were down against the Hornets for most of the first half before coming back with a monster second half to hold off Charlotte by double digits.
A win for Boston locks them into the 2-seed. A win for the Knicks brings them to just two games away from Boston, and they own the tiebreaker.
Meanwhile, a loss for the Knicks means they'll be tied with the Cavaliers for fourth place heading into Friday, after Cleveland's win over Atlanta.
Even if the Knicks win, the Celtics will likely be the 2-seed in the postseason, given that they'll face the Pelicans and Magic at home on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
We still need to play the games, though.
Following tonight, the Knicks face the Raptors at home on Friday, and then they get the Hornets at home on Sunday.
The Knicks only have Tyler Kolek (oblique) listed as questionable. The Celtics have Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Neemias Queta (toe), Sam Hauser (back) and Derrick White (knee) listed as questionable.
So basically, Jayson Tatum is the only Boston starter not on the report.
Celtics vs Knicks Predictions, Betting Analysis
Boston could easily punt this game and take one of the final two to secure the 2-seed in the East while not showing the Knicks any cards, given that New York hasn't seen Tatum since the Achilles tear last May.
So, we are gambling on the injury report here.
The Celtics might sit every starter except Tatum, while the Knicks need this game to avoid falling into a tie for fourth place — even with a tiebreaker over the Cavs.
I'll take a shot on the Knicks to cover the spread as 4.5-point favorites at Madison Square Garden with a full lineup against a likely short-handed Celtics team, who could just run everyone out there to stomp the Pelicans in what could be a three-quarter game on Friday, which would secure the 2-seed.
Then, Boston could rest everyone on Sunday in the finale, which will be good for Orlando.
Pick: Knicks -4.5 (-110)
