New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics – game predictions
The Celtics are a 3-point road favourite with a total of 225.5 points.
Prediction 1: Celtics -3 @ -110 (1.91)
The Knicks were 6-5-1 ATS as a home underdog last season, so this is not a situation they are used to being in. But the Celtics are an excellent team that likely has enhanced the offensive side of the game with what Jrue Holiday can do as a scorer and passer over Marcus Smart. Kristaps Porzingis is maddeningly inconsistent, but he can be a 20 points/10 rebounds for this team on any given night. They still have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as one of the best 2-man combos in the NBA. We’ll trust the better team to start the season strong and get a road cover against the weaker offence in this game.
Prediction 2: Jayson Tatum over 26.5 points @ -113 (1.88)
Tatum scored 40 points in his last game against the Knicks last March. He attempted a season-high 17 3-point shots in that game, but Tatum is an elite scorer and MVP candidate. He scored over 26.5 points in 12-of-20 playoff games last year, including 6-of-9 times on the road. Tatum averaged 28.6 points per game on the road last season. With the Celtics working in some new players, the No. 1 scoring threat is still the most reliable player to trust for his scoring over in Game 1 of 82.
First look at the new Celtics’ lineup
Boston has the best odds to win the NBA Finals to start the season after making big moves to bring Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to the roster to join Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as they look to get over the hump and win a championship.
New York Knicks news, injuries, and starting lineups
The Knicks did not land Damian Lillard or do anything real flashy this offseason, but they hope to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row after beating Cleveland in the first round last season. Jalen Brunson played very well in his first season as the starting point guard last year. Julius Randle is looking for a bounce-back year after not impressing as much as he did the previous season.
New York Knicks injury report:
- No injuries reported
New York Knicks starting lineup:
Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Quentin Grimes, Mitchell Robinson
Boston Celtics news, injuries, and starting lineups
Jayson Tatum remains an MVP favourite, and Jaylen Brown is one of the best-paid No. 2 options in the NBA. But the Celtics will hope to get more of an offensive surge from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis now that the team has moved on from Marcus Smart and Robert Williams. The depth will be tested too as Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams are gone too, but veteran Al Horford returns for another season.
Boston Celtics injury report:
- No injuries reported
Boston Celtics starting lineup:
Jrue Holiday, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Knicks vs Celtics head-to-head record
The Celtics were only 1-3 against the Knicks last season. Here are the results from the last 5 meetings:
- 5/3/2023: Knicks 131, Celtics 129 in Boston
- 27/2/2023: Knicks 109, Celtics 94 in New York
- 26/1/2023: Knicks 120, Celtics 117 in Boston
- 5/11/2022: Celtics 133, Knicks 118 in New York
- 8/1/2022: Celtics 99, Knicks 75 in Boston
Key game details
- Date & Time: October 26, 2023, 00:00 GMT
- Venue: Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
- Where to watch matches in the UK: NBA League Pass, TNT Sports 1, or other live stream
