Celtics vs. Knicks Picks and Prediction – 5/16/2025

Boston Celtics (2-3) vs. New York Knicks (3-2)
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: ESPN

Previous Games:

  • Celtics: Dominated Game 5 with a 127-102 win at home

  • Knicks: Struggled offensively in Game 5, shooting just 36% from the field

Head-to-Head:

Boston has won 10 of the last 14 meetings overall, and while the Knicks lead the series 3-2, the Celtics have covered the spread in 17 of their last 20 road games, including 8 of their last 10. The Celtics are 4-1 ATS in their last five visits to Madison Square Garden.

Boston Celtics Breakdown:

Even without Jayson Tatum, Boston looked sharp in Game 5. Derrick White lit it up from deep, scoring 34 points with 7 threes, while Jaylen Brown added 26 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds. The Celtics rank second in defensive efficiency in the postseason and are allowing just 98.3 points per game over their last 10. Their bench was a major factor last game, with Luke Kornet posting 10 points, 9 boards, and 7 blocks.

Key Players:

  • Derrick White: 34 points (7-13 3PT in Game 5)

  • Jaylen Brown: 22.5 PPG, 12 assists in Game 5

  • Luke Kornet: 10 pts, 9 reb, 7 blk off the bench

New York Knicks Breakdown:

The Knicks have lost 3 of their last 5 home playoff games and are facing immense pressure to close out the series. Despite a solid showing from Josh Hart (24 points) and Jalen Brunson (22 points before fouling out), the team shot just 36% from the field and struggled to generate efficient offense. They are also shooting just 72.9% from the line over their last 10 games and rank bottom-half in postseason offensive efficiency.

Key Players:

  • Jalen Brunson: 28.9 PPG, 7.8 APG

  • Josh Hart: 24 points, 7 rebounds in Game 5

  • Karl-Anthony Towns: 19 points, 8 rebounds last game

Betting Trends:

Boston Celtics:

  • 14-6 SU in last 20 games

  • Covered +2.5 in 17 of last 20 road games

  • 10-4 SU in last 14 vs. Knicks

New York Knicks:

  • 8-4 SU in last 12 games

  • 2-5 SU in last 7 home games

  • Failed to cover -2.5 in 7 of last 10 vs. Celtics

Exact Score Prediction:

Boston Celtics 106 – New York Knicks 102

Our Best Bet:

Boston Celtics +2.5 (-110)

Boston’s ability to bounce back without Tatum and their dominant showing in Game 5 suggest they're far from finished. The Knicks’ inconsistent offense and home struggles tilt this matchup in Boston’s favor, especially given the strong trends against the spread. With White and Brown clicking and Boston’s defense locking in, the Celtics are poised to extend the series.

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