NBA Best Bets Today: Predictions for Knicks-Celtics, Chris Paul and More

The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns will all play on national television on Thursday night, and they are the focus of today's NBA Best Bets column.

Can the Knicks, who have struggled to win consecutive games all season, take the lead in the season series against an underperforming Boston team? I may not be bold enough to pick a side in this matchup, but I love the total, which has been dropping steadily at WynnBET throughout the day.

Plus, I have a pair of player props to make tonight for Chris Paul and Evan Fournier.

All odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 77-88-2

NBA Best Bets Today

• Boston Celtics-New York Knicks OVER 207 (-110)
• Evan Fournier OVER 11.5 Points (-120)
• Chris Paul UNDER 14.5 Points (-115)

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks: OVER 207 (-110)

This is the third matchup between these two teams this season, with Boston evening the season series in the last game in Boston. The Celtics are on a back-to-back after losing to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, but they are 4-2-1 against the spread in that spot this season. 

The Knicks won three straight games in late October, but since then they are a dismal 2-10 after a win. 

New York was able to beat the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, but it is still just 7-12 against the spread at home. 

With Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker out of the lineup with injuries, the Knicks have relied on Alec Burks as the point guard in the starting lineup. New York got major games from Julius Randle and RJ Barrett on Tuesday, but they have been too inconsistent for me to back in this game.

Boston is a similar story, as Jayson Tatum is shooting a career-worst 41.3 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from 3 this season and is coming off a 6-for-20 game against the Spurs. 

Despite these struggles, the first two games between these teams this season saw totals of 272 and 221 respectively. I’ll take the over on the total at 210.5 in what should be a barn burner at MSG. 

Evan Fournier OVER 11.5 Points (-120)

Sticking with the Knicks-Celtics game, I’m going to buy low on Evan Fournier’s points prop after his scoreless outing against the Indiana Pacers. 

The Knicks are still going to need minutes out of Fournier with Rose and Walker out, and he is averaging 32 points per game against Boston this season.

Despite the goose egg, Fournier has cleared this line in six of his last nine games, including three of his last five. I expect him to bounce back at home tonight.

Chris Paul UNDER 14.5 Points (-115)

Chris Paul is averaging double-digit assists per game this season, but he has taken a step back scoring the ball, averaging just 14.1 points per game. 

Paul has failed to score 15 or more points in five straight games and eight of his last 10, and he will face a tough Los Angeles Clippers defense that ranks fourth in the NBA in defensive rating. 

Paul was held to just nine points in the last meeting between these two teams, and I’m going to ride the trend at more favorable odds (-115 on the under, -125 on the over) in this prop.