Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Betting Pick & Prediction 4/8/25
At 7:30 ET, the Knicks (-108) will host the Celtics (-111) at Madison Square Garden. Boston is favored by 1 point, and the over/under line is set at 221.
This is a division matchup between the 2nd place Celtics (58-20) and the 3rd place Knicks (50-28). Both teams are currently on 2 game win streaks.
BOSTON CELTICS VS NEW YORK KNICKS BETTING PICK
The Pick: New York Knicks +1
This game will be played at Madison Square Garden at 7:30 ET on Tuesday, April 8th.
WHY BET THE NEW YORK KNICKS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 140-130 in favor of the Knicks.
- Our projections have Jalen Brunson finishing with 27 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists.
- From the field, we have the Knicks finishing with a field goal percentage of 49.5% and knocking down 14 threes.
Will Boston Win on the Road?
Boston improved to 58-20 on the season with a dominant 124-90 win over the Wizards on Sunday. Playing at home, the Celtics were favored by 19.5 points and covered the spread with a +34 margin. The game’s total points ended at 214, falling short of the 228 O/U line.
Boston set the tone early, leading 34-18 after the 1st quarter. A 19-0 run in the 3rd quarter extended their lead from 79-60 to 98-60, and they entered the 4th quarter up 100-68. They closed out the game by outscoring Washington 24-22 in the final period.
The Celtics hit 24 threes at a 46.2% clip in their win over the Wizards, with an overall shooting percentage of 49%. Payton Pritchard led the way with 20 points, 12 of which came in the 4th quarter, and added 7 assists and 6 rebounds.
Derrick White contributed 19 points, with 11 in the 2nd quarter, and knocked down 5 threes, shooting 55.6% from deep. Sam Hauser also connected on 4 threes, finishing with 18 points and 8 rebounds.
The Celtics put on a defensive clinic against the Wizards, holding them to just 90 points. Boston set the tone early, allowing only 18 points in the 1st quarter and 21 in the 2nd. Even in the 3rd, where Washington scored their highest, the Celtics still limited them to 29 points before clamping down again in the 4th, giving up just 22.
Boston’s defense was particularly effective from beyond the arc, where they held the Wizards to 26% shooting with just 12 made threes. Washington also went to the line only 10 times, converting 8. The Celtics finished with 37 defensive rebounds, 6 steals, and 5 blocked shots.
Will the Knicks Defense Show Up at Home?
The Knicks improved to 50-28 on the season with a 112-98 win over the Suns on Sunday. Playing at home, New York was favored by 9.5 points and covered the spread. The combined score of 210 points fell short of the 225.5-point O/U line.
New York took control early, leading 27-23 after the 1st quarter and extending their lead to 53-43 by halftime. A strong 3rd quarter saw them outscore Phoenix 34-27, giving them an 87-70 lead heading into the 4th. Although the Suns edged the Knicks 28-25 in the final period, New York’s early dominance secured the win.
OG Anunoby’s 32 points and 6 threes at 75% shooting led the Knicks to a win over the Suns, with Anunoby hitting 19 points in the 3rd quarter. He finished the game shooting 76.5% from the field. Mikal Bridges added 22 points, including 10 in the 2nd quarter and 8 more in the 4th.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds, scoring 11 points in the 2nd quarter. The Knicks shot 54.1% from the field, with a 42.9% mark from three, hitting 12 threes in the game.
The Knicks put together a strong defensive performance on Sunday, holding the Suns to just 98 points. New York was especially effective in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed only 20 points. Overall, the Knicks limited Phoenix to 42% shooting from the field.
New York’s defense was particularly effective against the three-point shot, as they allowed just 4 made threes on 11% shooting. The Knicks also recorded 6 steals and 3 blocks in the game.