The New York Knicks (33-19) and Boston Celtics (34-18) will face off in the NBA on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game will be broadcast live on ABC.
The Celtics are 3.5-point favorites over the Knicks on the spread (Celtics -3.5), with the over/under set at 214.5 total points. Boston is a -175 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New York is +145 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Knicks vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Sunday, February 8.
Knicks vs Celtics Prediction, Picks
- Knicks vs Celtics pick: Nikola Vucevic Over 7.5 Rebounds (-127)
My Celtics vs. Knicks best bet is the over on Nikola Vucevic's rebounds prop. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Knicks vs Celtics Odds
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -108 | 214.5 -110o / -110u | +145 |
| Celtics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -112 | 214.5 -110o / -110u | -175 |
Knicks vs Celtics NBA Preview
The Knicks came to Detroit riding an eight-game winning streak, but that came to a screeching halt as they fell 118-80 to the Pistons. It was just the second time in NBA history that an eight-game winning streak ended with a 30-point loss, and their second 30-point loss to the Pistons this season.
Jalen Brunson had a particularly rough outing as he shot 4-for-20 from the field and ended with 12 points. It was his third time being held under 15 points in his last six games. He is still averaging 27.1 points per game as the league's 10th leading scorer.
The Knicks were also missing a couple of key pieces on Friday night as Karl-Anthony Towns (right eye laceration) and OG Anunoby (right toe soreness) did not play. They are both questionable, along with Josh Hart (right ankle soreness), today.
While head coach Mike Brown would love all of them to be available, Anunoby may be his preference for today's game with Jaylen Brown on the other side.
Meanwhile, Boston appeared on the verge of being blown out on Friday, as they could not buy a bucket and trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half.
However, head coach Joe Mazzulla told his team they were in a great spot because they should have been down 35-40 points after 28% in the first half and starting 1-for-20 from 3. His team responded by outscoring Miami 36-15 in the third quarter.
Brown scored 29 points while Payton Pritchard added 24 points off the bench, just the third game that he did not start this season. But it was Derrick White's 3-pointer with 1:31 left to go that gave the Celtics the lead for good and gave them a 98-96.
White shot just 6-for-20 from the field and finished with 21 points and five assists.
Mazzulla's lineups may be under construction for now after the team acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Bulls. Vucevic came off the bench as well but played 28 minutes in his team debut.
He joins a Celtic team that has now won five straight games and sits a game in front of the Knicks for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.
The teams have split the first two meetings this season after the Knicks defeated the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last spring.
Knicks vs Celtics Prediction, Betting Analysis
Since the Celtics moved on from Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford last summer, they have needed a center, and Vucevic may be the answer to close this season.
In his first game with the team, he had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. It was his seventh game with eight or more rebounds in his past nine games, and he is averaging 8.6 rebounds per game in that span.
He will be taking on a Knicks team that is fourth in the league in rebounding, led by Towns and Mitchell Robinson. However, opportunities are there for opposing centers as they are 15th in rebounds allowed to centers.
Vucevic is averaging 10.3 rebounds on 17.6 rebounding chances in his last eight games against the Knicks. He has recorded eight rebounds in six of those games.
Brown has scored 23 and 42 points in two games against the Knicks this season. He has scored 25 points in 16 of his last 20 games, and I like his chances of getting there again today, particularly if Anunoby is out again.
Brunson has been slumping of late, shooting 40% from the field and 27% from 3 over his last 10 games. However, he has still scored 25 points four times in that span and Boston sets up a good bounce-back spot for him.
In his last eight regular-season games against Boston, he is averaging 28.3 points per game and he has scored 25 points in five of those games.
Knicks vs Celtics Best Bet
- Nikola Vucevic Over 7.5 Rebounds (-127, DraftKings)
Knicks vs Celtics Parlay Picks
- Jaylen Brown 25+ Points
- Jalen Brunson 25+ Points
- Nikola Vucevic Over 7.5 Rebounds
Parlay Payout: +266 via DraftKings
Spread
I'll pass on the spread.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline here.
Over/Under
My Knicks vs. Celtics betting prediction is Nikola Vucevic over 7.5 rebounds.
Celtics vs Knicks Betting Trends
