Upcoming Match-ups

Boston Celtics vs NY Knicks Odds and Picks

Quinn Allen

by Quinn Allen in NBA Basketball

Updated Oct 31, 2022 · 7:27 AM PDT

Julius Randle dribbling
Oct 15, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) drives to the basket against the Washington Wizards in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
  • It’s a classic Eastern Conference rivalry on Wednesday, October 20th with the Celtics facing the Knicks at MSG
  • New York is a 2-point favorite in the season opener
  • Read on for the odds, preview, and prediction

After an offseason full of big moves, the 2021-22 NBA campaign is finally here.

Two of the most storied franchises in the Eastern Conference will go head to head on Wednesday, October 20th as Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics take on Julius Randle and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm ET.

The Knicks won two of three against the C’s last season and most recently beat them in May, 96-92. New York could be without big man Nerlens Noel in the opener due to a knee injury, while Jaylen Brown is questionable for Boston due to a positive COVID-19 test last week.

Celtics vs Knicks Odds

Team Spread Moneyline Total Points
Boston Celtics +2 (-110) +109 Ov 218 (-110)
New York Knicks -2 (-110) -126 Un 218 (-110)

Odds as of October 19th at Fanduel.

Can C’s Stay Healthy?

On paper, the Celtics have a very talented roster. With a superstar duo leading the way in Tatum and Brown, there’s no telling what this team is capable of this season.

However, it will simply come down to health. Brown is already dealing with COVID-19 problems, while Al Horford is out on Wednesday because of a positive test.

YouTube video

Boston did a good job of adding more pieces around Tatum and Brown this summer, bringing in the likes of Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson, and Enes Kanter.

Schroder, who struggled in his short stint with the Lakers, brings more playmaking and scoring to the Celtics and will be poised for a big year after settling for a mere one-year deal.

The team also hired a rookie head coach in Ime Udoka while elevating Brad Stevens to a front-office role. If Brown is sidelined for the season opener, expect the offensive burden to fall mostly on Tatum and Schroder’s shoulders.

However, Tatum should have no problem picking up the slack following a tremendous campaign in 2020-21. The former Duke standout averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per night on 38% shooting from downtown as the Celtics bowed out in the first round of the playoffs.

Preseason is never much of a gauge as to how a team will play, but Boston went 2-2. The three-ball seemed to be one of their primary sources of scoring, launching 43.8% of their shots from long range compared to just 38.1% last season. It should be interesting to see if this trend continues on Wednesday against a team in New York who was tremendous at defending threes in 2020-21.

Optimism Around Knicks

NY surprised the entire NBA last season, securing the third seed in the East and making the playoffs for the first time in eight years. While they did exit in the first round at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks, it was truly a learning experience for a team that evidently has a bright future ahead.

YouTube video

Julius Randle emerged as a star and won Most Improved Player of The Year after putting up 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and six assists on 41% shooting from beyond the arc. RJ Barrett took significant strides in Year Two, while the likes of Derrick Rose, Reggie Bullock, and Alec Burks also thrived under Tom Thibodeau’s tutelage.

Although Bullock is gone, the Knicks got even better this offseason, signing Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker to strengthen their backcourt and take the load off Barrett. We know how strong Thibs’ teams are defensively and although Fournier and Kemba aren’t great in that department, New York is going to be even more dangerous offensively because of these additions.

YouTube video

Mitchell Robinson is back on the floor as well which is a huge boost to the Knicks’ frontcourt. All in all, they’re basically at full strength heading into Wednesday and possess a lot more depth than the Celtics. That may be the difference in the opening game for both clubs.

Celtics vs Knicks Prediction

It’s always tough to predict the first game of a brand new campaign, but with New York playing at home in front of an electric atmosphere at MSG, I like them to cover the spread here. The Celtics are likely without Brown, which could prove costly against a stout defense in the Knicks.

Pick: New York Knicks -2 (-110)

Author Image