Celtics Look To Respond Following Collapse Vs Knicks

The New York Knicks (19-20, 18-21 ATS) visit the Boston Celtics (18-21, 18-20-1) at TD Garden on Saturday in the second meeting of a home-and-home set. The Knicks will look to win their third straight game while the Celtics will look to snap a two-game losing skid.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Celtics opened as six-point favorites at home with the total set at 210 points. The OVER is 3-0 in last three meetings between the two teams. The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last six outings while the Knicks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven games. Boston has found recent success against New York at home, winning four of the last five meetings at TD Garden.

New York News & Notes

The Knicks won the first matchup of the home-and-home set 108-105 in New York on Thursday in dramatic fashion as RJ Barrett scored a buzzer-beater from beyond the arc to seal the game.

New York fell behind by 20-plus points in the second quarter and Boston led by such a margin for much of the game, but the Knicks battled back to get within seven points at the end of the third quarter. The Knicks then outscored the Celtics 31-21 in the final frame, capped off by Barrett’s last-second three to earn the unlikely comeback win. Evan Fournier dropped 41 points for New York to lead all scorers while Julius Randle added 22 of his own in the victory.

Fournier (thigh) and Nerlens Noel (conditioning) are questionable for Saturday while Kemba Walker (knee) is out.

Boston News & Notes

The Celtics were on the other side of Thursday’s outcome, taking the loss in what looked like a certain win. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 36 points plus nine assists while Dennis Schroder scored 20 in the loss.

Head coach Ime Udoke was critical of his team after the game, citing a “lack of mental toughness to fight through those adverse times.” The loss marked Boston’s fourth blown lead of at least 19 points this season – two more than any other team in the NBA.

Payton Pritchard (health and safety protocols) and Brodric Thomas (back) are ruled out for Saturday’s game.

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How New York Will Cover

The Knicks come into this game as sizable underdogs but they’ll have all the momentum after Thursday’s big win. New York also boasts the sixth-best defense in the league this season, allowing just 105.4 points per contest. The combination of a strong Knicks defense and a mediocre Boston offense (107.9 points per game) could help New York cover the spread.

How Boston Will Cover

The Celtics will be motivated to respond after an embarrassing defeat on Thursday, especially in front of their home crowd at TD Garden. Tatum has been consistent and should be good for another 20-plus point game while Fournier, the Knicks’ top scorer on Thursday, is unlikely to repeat his performance (if he’s even in the lineup).

Computer Pick: Knicks +7

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