Celtics Face Off Against Knicks in Crucial Eastern Conference Clash

Celtics Face Off Against Knicks in Crucial Eastern Conference Clash

Two Eastern Conference powerhouses clash on Thursday as the Boston Celtics visit the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Boston (54-25) stands as the No. 2 seed and enters the matchup on a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating Charlotte, 113-102. Meanwhile, New York (51-28), holding the 3-seed, is also in fine form with a three-game win streak, having edged out Atlanta, 108-105. A victory for the Celtics would secure their No. 2 seed in the conference, trailing only the top-seeded Detroit. However, Boston faces injury concerns with Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Derrick White (knee), and Neemias Queta (toe) listed as questionable. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks have won two of the three meetings this season and are currently favored by 4.5 points according to the latest odds, with an over/under set at 215.5 points. Before placing any bets, consider the predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model, which has successfully simulated the game 10,000 times. The model has shown impressive returns, generating over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight seasons. Here are the latest betting lines for the matchup: Spread: New York -4.5 at DraftKings Over/Under: 215.5 points Money Line: Knicks -183, Celtics +153 The model predicts that the total points will exceed 215.5, noting that the previous two matchups averaged 220 combined points. Jayson Tatum, a five-time All-NBA selection, is averaging 25.3 points over his last six games and scored 42 points in his last encounter against New York. The Knicks have been explosive at home, averaging 134.5 points in their last four games. The model forecasts New York to outscore Boston, projecting that the total will be eclipsed 65.4% of the time in this highly anticipated contest.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-09