Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks - May 12, 2025

Ah, the echoes of Madison Square Garden. There’s nothing quite like it when the Boston Celtics roll into town to face off against the New York Knicks. Familiarity breeds contempt, and with both teams clashing for what feels like the hundredth time this season, we can expect a fiery contest that’s bound to deliver some drama.

The oddsmakers have set the Celtics as 6-point favorites, and let me tell you, I’m feeling confident about this one. With a record of 66-24 straight up (SU) and having gone 19-5 in their last 24 games, Boston is on fire. They’re also boasting an impressive 19-3 record on the road. Their recent performance against New York—beating them 115-93—proves they know how to handle business when it matters most.

On offense, both teams are neck-and-neck in scoring averages; Boston edges out marginally at around 115.3 points per game compared to New York’s 114.9. However, it’s worth noting that while Boston has a slightly lower field goal percentage (46.1%), they’re hitting three-pointers at an almost identical rate (36.7% for Boston versus 36.6% for New York). This means we could be in for a shootout—if both teams decide to unleash their offensive arsenals.

Defensively, the Celtics grab more rebounds per game (45.4) than the Knicks’ average of 42.6—a crucial stat that could dictate possession and second-chance opportunities tonight. Add to that Boston’s fewer turnovers (12 versus New York’s nearly 13) and they’ve got a slight edge there too.

Now let’s talk strategy: Boston has been maintaining a solid UNDER trend lately—with four of their last six games going below the total—but given these two high-scoring offenses meeting again after their previous encounter’s similar outcome, I predict we’ll see some fireworks tonight! The total opened at 209.5, but I’m leaning towards it going OVER this time around.

As much as my gut tells me that Boston will win outright—and cover that spread—I can’t shake off that sneaky feeling about underdogs pulling off surprises in high-stakes matchups like these… but not today! I’ve seen enough heartbreaks over the years from betting on wishful thinking; I’m putting my chips down firmly with the Celtics tonight.

So here’s where I stand: I’m confident in a Celtics win by double digits and covering that -6 spread comfortably; expect some smooth shooting from beyond the arc leading us past that total line as well!

And remember—always trust your instincts and rituals before placing your bets! Cheers to another night of NBA action!