Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Picks and Predictions May 7th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the Knicks will travel to Boston to take on the Celtics. New York is currently on a two-game win streak and is 51-31 on the season. The Knicks are 3rd in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics are 61-21 and are favored by 10.5 points in this matchup. Boston is 2nd in the East and 1st in the Atlantic.

This game will be played at TD Garden and can be seen on TNT. The over/under line for this matchup is 210.5 points. The moneyline for the Knicks is +401, while the Celtics are -539.

No More Guessing Games—NBA Scores and Odds are here.

Knicks vs. Celtics Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics
• Where: Boston at TD Garden
• Date: Wednesday, May 7th
• Betting Odds BOS -10.5, NY +401 | BOS -539 O/U 210.5

The Knicks Can Win If…

The Knicks improved to 51-31 on the season with a 108-105 win over the Celtics on Monday, May 5th. New York not only picked up the road win but also covered the spread as +3 point underdogs. The total points for the game landed exactly on the O/U line of 213, resulting in a push.

New York was +9 point underdogs heading into the game and pulled off the upset. After falling behind 61-45 at halftime, the Knicks outscored the Celtics 30-23 in the 3rd quarter and 25-16 in the 4th to complete the comeback.

In the Knicks’ 108-105 win over the Celtics, OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson each scored 29 points, with Anunoby hitting 6 threes at 54.5% and Brunson making 5 at 55.6%. Anunoby added 12 points in the 3rd quarter, while Brunson contributed 11 in the 4th.

The Knicks connected on 17 threes, shooting 45.9% from deep, despite a 42.5% overall field goal percentage. Josh Hart added 14 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 55.6% from the field.

The Knicks’ defense tightened up in the 2nd half, allowing just 39 points, including a 16-point 4th quarter, to help secure the win. Overall, they held the Celtics to 35% shooting.

From beyond the arc, the Knicks limited Boston to 15 made threes on 25% shooting. They also recorded 10 steals in the game.

• The Knicks are 3-0 ATS in their three last road games and 3-0 straight-up.
• As the betting underdog, the Knicks have an ATS record of 3-0 in their last three games. In these matchups their, straight up record was 3-0.
• Over their last three games, the Knicks have an over/under record of 1-1-1 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

Serious About Profits? Follow The Best Handicappers For Winning Picks!

The Celtics Can Win If…

The Celtics fell to 61-21 on the season after a 108-105 home loss to the Knicks on Monday. Boston, favored by nine points, couldn’t cover the spread, and the game’s total of 213 points matched the pre-game line.

Boston took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring New York 35-20, but the Knicks rallied, winning the 3rd quarter 30-23 and the 4th quarter 25-16 to complete the comeback.

In their 108-105 loss to the Knicks, the Celtics shot just 35.1% from the field and 25% from three-point range, hitting 15 threes. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 23 points, with Tatum adding 16 rebounds, though he shot only 30.4% and made 4 threes at 26.7%.

Derrick White contributed 19 points, hitting 5 threes at 31.2%, and added 11 rebounds. Brown scored 13 points in the 2nd quarter, while Tatum added 13 in the 1st. Jrue Holiday finished with 16 points, and Payton Pritchard added 13, with 8 coming in the 2nd quarter.

Defensively, the Celtics held the Knicks to 108 points while allowing 25 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters. Their best defensive effort came in the 2nd quarter, where they gave up just 20 points, but the Knicks scored 30 in the 3rd.

Boston limited New York to 42% shooting overall, but the Knicks hit 17 threes at a 45% rate. The Celtics sent the Knicks to the line 31 times, where they made 17 free throws. Boston also recorded 40 defensive rebounds, gave up 12 offensive boards, and added 4 steals and 5 blocks.

• In their last five games at home, the Celtics have a straight up record of 3-2 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team averaged 102 points per game in this stretch.
• Across their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Celtics have an overall record of 3-2 while going 2-3 against the spread.
• In their last three games, the Celtics have an over/under record of 2-0-1 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For a point-spread wager in this Celtics vs. Knicks game, we suggest taking the Knicks at +10.5. Even though our predictions have the Celtics winning 138-132, we see the Knicks as the better choice on the point-spread.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 210.5 and our model has the Knicks and Celtics finishing with a combined 270 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Betting on the Knicks-Celtics Series?

Make Smart Plays with Expert Insights!

Start Now!

Knicks Aim to Build on Momentum as Celtics Seek Shooting Revival

The New York Knicks pulled off a dramatic Game 1 comeback to stun the Boston Celtics in overtime, and now head into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a golden opportunity to press their advantage. Boston, facing a rare series deficit, must recover quickly—especially with the status of Kristaps Porzingis in question.

Porzingis’ Absence Looms Large

Kristaps Porzingis played only the first half in Game 1 before exiting due to an illness. The Celtics have dealt with this before—Porzingis missed eight games in March with a viral issue—and his absence on Wednesday would be a significant blow to Boston’s interior presence and spacing.

“KP is big for us… but we’ve always had this next-man-up mentality. Until we know what’s up with KP we’ll just have to have that same mentality.”
— Jrue Holiday, Celtics Guard

Porzingis averaged 19.5 points per game during the regular season, and his versatility on both ends is critical. Without him, Boston leans even more heavily on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White.

Cold Shooting Costs Celtics Game 1

Boston’s biggest issue in Game 1 wasn’t just losing a 20-point second-half lead—it was their brutal shooting performance from beyond the arc. The Celtics went just 15-for-60 from deep, the most missed three-pointers in a single playoff game in NBA history.

Tatum (4-for-15), Brown (1-for-10), and White (5-for-16) all struggled to find rhythm, and the team went just 2-for-15 from downtown in the fourth quarter alone.

“To break that momentum, you’ve got to get to the free-throw line, get to the paint, get to the basket… I feel like we just settled in the second half a lot.”
— Jaylen Brown, Celtics Forward

The loss marks the first time Boston has trailed in a series since the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. With the next two games set for Madison Square Garden, Game 2 becomes a must-win to avoid falling into a dangerous 0-2 hole.

Knicks Overcome Foul Trouble, Free-Throw Woes

The Knicks weren’t perfect either. Despite their heroic comeback, New York went just 17-for-31 from the free-throw line and saw both Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson battle foul trouble throughout the night. Towns picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, yet still helped fuel the rally.

Transform Your Bets With Insights From The Expert Betting Guide.

“It was a great team win. We got into a hole, fought our way out and made big plays down the stretch… It’s one win and then (we have to) reset and get ready for Game 2.”
— Tom Thibodeau, Knicks Head Coach

Even with room to improve, New York sent a clear message—they won’t be intimidated on the road, and they’re capable of flipping the game at any moment.

“This team is special… they’re the defending champions and they’re gonna come back hungrier.”
— Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks Center