The New York Knicks (1-0) and Boston Celtics (0-1) will face off in Game 2 of their second round NBA Playoff series tonight. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Celtics are 10.5-point favorites over the Knicks on the spread, with the over/under set at 211.5 total points. Boston is a -550 favorite to win outright, while New York is +400 to pull off the upset.
The Knicks did it! They beat the Celtics! They beat a good team! It’s a rare sight, but it happened. I saw it with my own two eyes! Now, they face one of the toughest spots in the last five years: facing Boston on the road coming off a loss.
Can the Knicks stay with Boston and take an even more shocking 2-0 lead? Or will the champs strike back and demolish New York in Game 2 tonight? Let’s get into my Knicks vs. Celtics predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, May 7.
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Knicks vs Celtics Prediction, Picks for NBA Playoffs Game 2
My Celtics vs. Knicks Game 2 best bet is on Boston to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. But as always, make sure to shop for the best price using our live NBA odds page.
My Pick: Celtics -10.5 (-110)
Knicks vs Celtics Odds for Wednesday, May 7
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- Knicks vs. Celtics spread: Celtics -10.5
- Knicks vs. Celtics over/under: 211.5 total points
- Knicks vs. Celtics moneyline: Knicks +400, Celtics -550
- Knicks vs. Celtics best bet: Celtics -10.5 (-110)
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I am stuck in a dilemma in this series. My projections like the Knicks in pretty much every spot because my model believes the gap between these two teams, based on their season performance, just isn’t in line with the market.
Even after downgrade for the Knicks and and upgrade for the playoff-intensity Celtics, I make this line Celtics -8.3. And yet, every spot indicator suggests Celtics is the right play in Game 2 tonight.
This opened Celtics -8 and was immediately bet up to Celtics -10.5 based on the fact the Celtics simply cannot afford to go down 0-2.
With Jayson Tatum in the lineup, Boston is 12-8 SU and ATS (60%) when at home coming off a loss. Under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics are 9-3 SU and ATS coming off a loss overall.
In conference playoffs, top-2 seeds down 1-0 at home are 23-8 SU, 21-10 ATS (68%) in Game 2. Their average margin of victory in those games is 8.5 points, clearing the average line by 2.9 points. If they are favored by double digits, they are 3-1 SU and ATS.
The Celtics missed 45 threes in Game 1. The unguarded/guarded numbers from NBA.com suggests that they missed great looks but a rewatch shows something different.
Catch-and-shoot opportunities are great looks, off the dribble threes for Boston are not. The Celtics were only tied for 14th in efficiency on those shots.
Jrue Holiday and Al Horford, the oldest players on Boston, were 3-of-12 from long-range.
Holiday has struggled with his corner three this season after shooting 62% from the corners in last year’s playoffs. He was 1-of-4 in the 4th quarter of Game 1.
But even then, the trends say Boston is going to snap back. Teams who shot more than 40 three-point attempts and made fewer than 30% of them are 17-9 SU and 18-8 ATS off a loss in that spot.
So yeah, it’s a pretty good spot for Boston. I’m betting Boston, that’s my best bet, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t making me nervous.
The market is ahead of Boston, but the spot is the spot.
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Knicks vs Celtics Game 2 Betting Predictions
Celtics Team Total Over 111.5
The total was a dead under in regulation, before going over in overtime.
Boston’s going to hit more three-pointers in Game 2. That’s a given. The Knicks also shot the lights out, going 17-of-37 for 46% from long range.
Let’s go back to those games where a team took more than 40 threes and shot less than 30% on them.
That team in those games went over their team total in 19 of the 26 games. The opponent went over in only 14 of the 26.
I’m going to take the Boston team total over here.
Derrick White Over 15.5 Points / Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made
This was an easy winner in Game 1 with the Celtics struggling and White going 5-of-16 from 3-point range.
The Knicks just kind of let him shoot.
It’s weird, and foolish, and he’ll punish them for it every game. Until these lines adjust, I’m playing them.
Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made
Also part of the 3-point regression angle.
Knicks vs Celtics Best Bets for Game 2
- Celtics -10.5 (-110)
- Celtics Team Total Over 111.5 (-115)
- Derrick White Over 15.5 Points (-110)
- Derrick White Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made (+108)
- Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (+145)
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