BOSTON @ NEW YORK (BOS -3, 225.5)
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CELTICS VS. KNICKS 10/25/23
In the wake of their most successful season in ten years, the New York Knicks largely did nothing this summer. The Boston Celtics made a number of eye-catching trades and signings in the meantime, after coming within one victory of a second consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. Tonight, the two teams kick off the new season at Madison Square Garden.
With a 47-35 record, the Knicks were the fifth-place team in the Eastern Conference last year. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Miami Heat in a six-game semifinal series. New York won its first postseason series against the Cavaliers since the spring of 2013. Before head coach Tom Thibodeau arrived and led New York to a 41-31 record and a first-round exit in the spring of 2021, the Knicks went through six coaches while missing the playoffs in seven straight seasons.
After failing to make the playoffs in 2021–22, New York only made one significant move—signing Jalen Brunson (24.0 ppg, 6.2 apg). Brunson's breakout season in the first year of his four-year contract symbolized the Knicks' "sum is better than the parts" philosophy. After acquiring Josh Hart at the trade deadline last year and Donte DiVicenzo in July this summer, the Knicks are becoming the NBA version of Villanova. All three players played their college basketball for the Wildcats.
New York understands the sense of urgency to win in the Eastern Conference, where the Celtics have added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and the Milwaukee Bucks have added Damian Lillard. The Bucks and Celtics were already strong before the acquisitions.
The Celtics (57-25 in 2022-23) qualified for the postseason for the ninth consecutive year after placing second in the East behind the Bucks. They won two rounds of the playoffs before falling to the Heat in the conference finals in seven games. Boston made a three-way trade for Porzingis, sending veteran Marcus Smart to Memphis in the process.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $60 million contract extension. Boston also signed Jaylen Brown, who averaged 26.6 points per game last season, to a five-year extension worth up to an NBA-record $303.7 million on July 25. The Celtics gave the Blazers Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and two first-round picks in exchange for Holiday.
The Celtics, who have lost five times in the Eastern Conference finals and twice in the NBA Finals since their most recent championship in the spring of 2008, haven't been deterred by the costly moves. Star forward Jayson Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points per game last season and is entering the third year of a five-year contract, may be in line for another exorbitant extension with Boston.
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FREE PICK: UNDER 224.5
Last year, the Knicks and Celtics played four games. The combined scores were 260, 203, 237, and 251. Two of the games - both played in Boston - went to overtime. The 203 game was played at MSG where games between these two have been more defensive-oriented. The two played there in the preseason and combined for 221. The Under has hit in 8 of the Knicks last 11 overall and in 7 of their last 10 against Eastern Conference opponents. It’s much of the same for Boston where 4 of the last 5 overall have gone Under and 6 of the last 9 against Eastern opponents have done the same. It’s the season opener. Both teams want to start with a win. Defense will win this game. Barring overtime again, this one goes Under
