Knicks vs. Celtics NBA Picks Against the Spread 10/24/17
Will the Knicks and Celtics struggle offensively on Tuesday night in Boston?
The Odds: Knicks vs. Celtics, 7:30PM ET, Tuesday
According to oddsmakers, the Celtics are 7.5-point home favorites for tonight’s game. New York opened as a 9-point underdog but the line was bet down nearly two full points. As for the total, the number hit the board at 210 but has dropped a full four points to 206.
New York dropped its first two games of the season, both straight up and at the betting window. Boston, meanwhile, is off to a 1-2 start straight up, but is 2-1 against the spread in its first three games.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are unwilling to trade Frank Ntilikina or Willy Hernangomez, according to Ian Begley of ESPN. Rumors surfaced earlier today that the Nuggets would be interested in both Ntilikina and Hernangomez in a potential trade for Eric Bledsoe. However, it appears the Knicks are currently unwilling to move either player, as they view both as core building blocks of their rebuilding efforts.
Boston Celtics
Marcus Smart (left ankle sprain) is listed as questionable in the game notes for tonight’s matchup with the Knicks. The is solely a game-notes designation, so we will have to wait to hear from coach Brad Stevens about 90 minutes before tip-off for a reliable update on Smart’s status. If Smart is unable to play, Terry Rozier would again be asked to log heavy minutes off the Boston bench. Shane Larkin and Abdel Nader would also see an uptick in playing time.
Our Prediction
In the last 17 meetings between these two teams in Boston, the under is 12-5. In the last 25 meetings overall between these two teams, the under is 17-8.
As for New York, the under is 4-0-1 in the Knicks’ last five road games. It is also 12-3-1 in their last 16 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game. The under is also 9-3-1 in their last 13 games overall and is 13-6-1 in their last 20 conference tilts.
Finally, the under is 4-1 in the Celtics’ last five games following an ATS win. In Boston’s last six games versus the Atlantic Division, the under has cashed five times. Also, the under is 4-0 in the Celtics’ last four games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous contest.
Tuesday NBA Prediction: Knicks/Celtics under 206
