The second-seeded Boston Celtics will look to even their best-of-seven 2025 NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series with the third-seeded New York Knicks when they meet in Game 6 on Friday night. Boston avoided elimination with a 127-102 win in Game 5. The Celtics (61-21), the defending NBA champions, are looking to reach the conference finals for the fourth consecutive year. The Knicks (51-31), who are looking to reach the conference finals for the first time since 1999-2000, have lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals in each of the past two seasons.
Tipoff from Madison Square Garden in New York is set for 8 p.m. ET. New York has won seven of the last 11 postseason meetings with Boston. The Knicks are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Celtics vs. Knicks odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 210.5. The Knicks are -145 on the money line (risk $145 to win $100), while the Celtics are +122 (risk $100 to win $122). Before making any Knicks vs. Celtics picks, check out the NBA predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the conference semifinals of the 2025 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 159-117 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $4,000. It is also 23-11 (68%) on top-rated NBA against-the-spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Now, the model has simulated Celtics vs. Knicks 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Knicks spread: New York -2.5 at DraftKings
- Celtics vs. Knicks over/under: 210.5 points
- Celtics vs. Knicks money line: Boston +122, New York -145
- BOS: The Celtics have hit the team total under in 63 of their last 98 games (+23.60)
- NY: The Knicks are 37-32 ATS this season
- Celtics vs. Knicks picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Celtics vs. Knicks streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Knicks can cover
Point guard Jalen Brunson is one of five New York players averaging double-digit scoring. He is coming off a 22-point and six assist effort in the Game 5 loss at Boston. He registered a double-double with 39 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in the 121-113 win in Game 4. In 11 postseason games, all starts, he is averaging 29.4 points, 7.8 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 39.5 minutes.
Another scoring option for the Knicks is center Karl-Anthony Towns. He is averaging 19.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and one block in 35.8 minutes. He has registered four double-doubles in the series, including a 23-point and 11-rebound effort in the Game 4 win. He scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 91-90 win over Boston in Game 2. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Celtics can cover
With small forward Jayson Tatum out for the year after having surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, Boston will turn to shooting guard Jaylen Brown to pick up some of the scoring slack. In 10 playoff starts, Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and one steal in 37.1 minutes. He is coming off a double-double with 26 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in the Game 5 win. He poured in 20 points, while adding seven rebounds and two assists in a Game 4 loss.
Point guard Derrick White is coming off a monster effort in the Game 5 win over New York. In 40 minutes of action, he poured in 34 points, while adding three rebounds, three blocks and two assists. In Game 4, he scored 23 points, while adding three rebounds and two assists. In 10 postseason games, all starts, he is averaging 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 blocks in 38.5 minutes. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Celtics vs. Knicks picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Celtics vs. Knicks 10,000 times and is leaning under the total, projecting 211 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Celtics vs. Knicks, and which side of the spread cashes in well over 50% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Knicks spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
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