The Boston Celtics (44-12) travel to face off against the New York Knicks (34-22) on Saturday, February 24th. This game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York and televised on ABC. Both team’s come into this one having won their previous games. Tip-off is set for 8:30 ET.
Celtics vs Knicks
The Celtics Are Coming Off A Win
The Celtics picked up a win over the Bulls in their latest game, finishing with a score of 129-112. Turning the tide, the Celtics picked up the win, overcoming a halftime deficit of 62-59.
Coming into today’s game vs. the Knicks, the Celtics have a winning record of 44-12 and are looking to build on their above .500 record. As it stands, the Celtics are in 1st place in the Eastern Conference and are also leading the Atlantic division.
Boston’s ATS record is currently below .500 at 25-28 for the season. Currently, the Celtics have a two game ATS win streak when they are favored, and they are 2-1 against the spread as underdogs.
The Knicks Are Coming Off A Win
In their most recent game, the Knicks took down the 76ers by a score of 110-96. Heading into the game, the Knicks were the underdogs at +1 giving them both a straight-up and ATS win. As for the over/under, the combined score of 206 points didn’t reach the over/under line of 228.5.
Heading into today’s matchup vs. the Celtics, the Knicks are looking to build on their above .500 record of 34-22. So far, the team is in 4th place in the Eastern Conference and holds the 2nd spot in the Atlantic division.
Presently, New York boasts an ATS record of 32-24, which is above .500 against the spread. During this season, New York has a 21-11 record against the spread as favorites and 11-13 as underdogs.
Celtics Offense Breakdown
The Celtics step onto the court for today’s game as one of the NBA’s top-scoring squads, putting up 120.8 points per game (5th).
Heading into the game, the Celtics are one of the most potent offenses in the NBA, averaging 120.8 points per game (5th). On the road, they are scoring 119.0 points per game (4th).
So far this season, Boston has outscored the NBA scoring average in 71.4% of their games. They are currently 12th in field goal percentage (48%) and 4th in true shooting percentage. In terms of pace, the Celtics are 16th in the league.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Celtics are the top three-point shooting team in the NBA. They are averaging 16.4 made threes per game (1st) and are 4th in three-point shooting percentage (38%).
Knicks Offense Breakdown
Through 56 games games, New York is averaging 114.4 points per game (18th).
The Knicks are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league, ranking 3rd in offensive rebounds per game. However, they are one of the worst teams in terms of assists, ranking 29th. In terms of pace, they are the slowest team in the league.
So far this season, the Knicks have scored 114.4 points per game, which is 18th in the NBA. At home, they are averaging 114.2 points per game compared to 114.6 on the road. In terms of field goal percentage, they are 22nd in the league at 46%.
When it comes to three-point shooting, the Knicks are 13th in the league in three-point percentage at 37%. They are also 14th in three-point makes per game. In terms of free throws, they are 12th in attempts and 14th in makes.
Celtics Team Defense
The Celtics’ defense is presently ranked 5th in the league, allowing an average of 110.6 points per contest. In the terms of takeaways, Celtics are causing 11.9 turnovers per game, ranking 5th in the league. They also enter the matchup ranked 2nd in rejections, averaging 6.6 blocked shots each game.
Knicks Team Defense
Currently, the Knicks’ defense holds the 3rd rank in the NBA, allowing 109.7 points per game. When it comes to forced turnovers, the Knicks are forcing 12.4 per game, which is 10th in the league. They also come into the game sitting 29th in blocked shots at 3.9 per game.
Key Players For The Celtics And Knicks
The outlook for today’s matchup points to Jayson Tatum as the primary point contributor for the Celtics, finishing with 26 points while maintaining a 9/19 shooting accuracy. This season, he is averaging 27.1 points per game along with 8.5 boards.
As for New York, Jalen Brunson is projected to be the primary scorer for the Knicks. Our forecast has him finishing the game with 27, and adding 4 rebounds. This season, he is shooting at a field goal percentage of 47.9%, and his scoring average is 27.5 points per game.
Celtics vs Knicks Trends
- Across their ten previous road games, Boston has an ATS mark of 5-4-1. Their straight up record in these matchups was 8-2 while averaging 119 points per game.
- In their last three games at home, the Knicks have a straight up record of 1-2 while going 1-2 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 104 points per game in these contests.
- Looking back on the team’s last three games as the underdog, the Knicks have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-2.
- Going back to their previous ten games as the favorite, Boston has an ATS mark of 3-6-1 while going 9-1 straight up.
Celtics vs Knicks Prediction
We’re backing the Celtics for a victory, with the projected score at 152-107. Additionally, we favor them to cover the spread, so we recommend placing a bet on the Celtics at -7.
As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 224 and our model has the Celtics and Knicks finishing with a combined 259 points. Our pick is to take the over.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:February 24, 2024 Celtics, Knicks