It may not be the most important Boston-centered sporting event on TV this Sunday, but there could be a ton of future seeding implications on the line when the New York Knicks (33-19) roll into Boston to take on the Celtics (34-18).
Knicks vs. Celtics tips off at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday from Boston, MA, live on ABC.
Below, we’ll break down our Knicks vs. Celtics prediction and Sunday NBA picks for PrizePicks. Use PrizePicks NBA to make picks on player projections and earn real money if you’re right.
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Knicks vs. Celtics Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
This is the third meeting this season between these two longtime rivals, with them splitting the series so far 1-1. The Knicks currently sit just one game behind the Celtics for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. While there's plenty of season left, this game is of great importance given how critical a win could be for playoff seeding.
The Knicks were the hottest team in the NBA before their 38-point shellacking at the hands of the Detroit Pistons in their last game, winning eight straight and turning around what was a choppy start to their season. They were missing three starters in the Detroit game: SF OG Anunoby, SG Josh Hart, and C Karl-Anthony Towns.
Now, the longest active win streak belongs to the Celtics, who have won their last five. There has been no bigger surprise than what the C’s have managed to do without superstar F Jayson Tatum. This team, which many expected to miss the playoffs entirely, has done nothing but deliver results.
A large part of that has been due to head coach Joe Mazzulla. Per PrizePicks Team Picks, an outcome of “Yes” for Mazzulla to win Coach of the Year returns a 4x payout.
Knicks vs. Celtics Over/Under, Spread
The Celtics enter Sunday’s game as 3.5-point home favorites, returning a 1.53x payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Knicks are road underdogs with a 2.27x payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: Boston Celtics -3.5 (1.78x payout)
- Over/Under: 213.5 (1.88x payout on over)
- Game Winner Payout: Knicks 2.27x | Celtics 1.53x
Team Picks payouts are live as of writing and are subject to change.
Knicks vs. Celtics Injury Report
Let’s dive into the full Knicks vs. Celtics injury report for Sunday, via NBA.com.
New York Knicks Injury Report
- SF OG Anunoby (Toe): Questionable
- SG Josh Hart (Ankle): Questionable
- C Karl-Anthony Towns (Laceration): Questionable
- PG Miles McBride (Pelvic): OUT
Boston Celtics Injury Report
- SF Sam Hauser (Back): Questionable
Knicks vs. Celtics Prediction on Spread
Here are some stats to help you make your Knicks vs. Celtics prediction on the spread today.
- Boston is 29-23-0 (55.8%) against the spread (ATS), the seventh-best record in the league.
- The Knicks have some drastic ATS splits. At home, they are 19-8-0 (70.4%), the best ATS record in the league. On the road, they're 8-16-0 (33%), the third-worst mark.
- The Celtics' biggest advantage may come from beyond the arc. The Knicks surrender the eighth-most 3-point attempts (38.7) and the 10th-highes percentage (36.2%).
- The C’s shoot 42.4 3s per game (second) at a 36.5% clip (ninth). 40.2% of their total points scored come from 3-point range, the second-most in the Association.
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Knicks vs. Celtics Picks for PrizePicks Today: Sunday, February 8
Here are two of the top Knicks vs. Celtics picks to consider for PrizePicks today. Player projections via the PrizePicks real-money NBA game.
Knicks PG Jalen Brunson vs. Celtics Projection – 36 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- PG Jalen Brunson has earned many points in his career by drawing contact. This year, he's averaging just 5.9 free throw attempts, his lowest mark in the last three years. The Celtics' defense allows the ninth-fewest free-throw attempts per night.
- In January, Brunson averaged just 30.4 combined points, rebounds, and assists (PRA).
- Boston allows 42.3 rebounds per game (seventh) and 25.1 assists per game (seventh).
- Brunson produces 1.3 fewer points, .1 fewer rebounds, and 1 fewer assist per game on the road. A lot of the Knicks' road ATS struggles might be partially attributed to his own struggles.
- The Celtics do allow the sixth-most 3-point attempts in the league (38.9), so getting hot from deep could be Brunson's path to reaching More than his projection.
Celtics F-G Jaylen Brown vs. Knicks Projection – 40.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- Brown averaged 41.7 PRA in January.
- JB is averaging .6 more rebounds and .1 more assists per game at home than on the road.
- In his last game vs. the Knicks, also at home, he went for 42-4-4 on 16-of-24 shooting.
- The Knicks yield 25.1 free throw attempts per game on the road, the ninth-most in the NBA. Brown takes a career-high 7.1 trips to the line each night, 2 attempts more than his previous career high of 5.1.
Make Knicks vs. Celtics Picks on PrizePicks
What better appetizer for Super Bowl LX for Boston fans and sports fans in general than a Knicks vs. Celtics clash for the No. 2 seed in the East? Knicks vs. Celtics picks aren’t the only way hoops fans can get in on the daily NBA action.
You can make your picks on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks and earn real money. Just pick players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and cash in if you’re correct. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 34 states.
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