3 Bold Predictions for Celtics vs. Knicks
By Peter Dewey
Madison Square Garden will play host to two Eastern Conference playoff teams from last season as the New York Knicks are at home to face the Boston Celtics in their season opener.
WynnBET Sportsbook has Julius Randle and the Knicks as two-point favorites in this matchup with the total set at 216.5 points.
New York went 2-1 against Boston last season, but two of the three matchups were decided by less than five points. It should make for a great matchup to open the season, as both teams have some new faces on the roster.
Here are three bold predictions for tonight’s Knicks-Celtics matchup:
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Bold Predictions for Celtics vs. Knicks
- Alec Burks OVER 1.5 3-Pointers Made (+100)
- Julius Randle to Record a Double-Double (+130)
- Jayson Tatum OVER 38.5 Points, Assists and Rebounds (-116)
Alec Burks OVER 1.5 3-Pointers Made (+100)
Burks only suited up in two of the Knicks’ games against Boston last season, but he shot a blistering 7-for-14 behind the arc in those matchups.
The past two seasons Burks has been a really solid bench piece, and he averaged 2.1 3’s made per game for the Knicks in the 2020-21 season. I don’t think his role changes much off the bench, so I wouldn't be surprised if Burks finds the net from deep twice in this one.
Julius Randle to Record a Double-Double (+130)
Randle posted a career year in the 2020-21 season, and with that he posted 41 double-doubles.
Randle averaged 24.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season, so getting him at plus odds to record a double-double tonight is a steal. Randle may even do it another way, as he led the Knicks with 6.0 assists per game in the 2020-21 season.
This should be a close game, so I expect Randle to stuff the stat sheet and handle as many minutes as he can for New York.
Jayson Tatum OVER 38.5 Points, Assists and Rebounds (-116)
Last season, Tatum averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for Boston.
If he can come close to those averages again tonight, he will be right around the 38.5 mark in this prop. Given the fact that Tatum averaged 25.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game against the Knicks last season, I like him to go over and have a strong opener.