Celtics at Knicks Odds & Betting Tips

Eastern Conference powers the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks meet in a playoff rematch from a season ago that saw the Knickerbockers oust the then defending NBA champions by winning three times on the parquet floor. The clubs will look different at the start of the new season but expectations remain high for both.

Celtics at Knicks Preview

The Mecca of basketball plays host to a heated rivalry when the Boston Celtics visit Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Friday, October 24, 2025. The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET tipoff with Prime Video streaming.

Public Betting Odds Factors

With Jayson Tatum recovering from Achilles surgery and expected out until at least February, the public has faded Boston in the futures market.

It’s not just Tatum, the Celtics roster has been reshaped in the frontcourt with the loss of Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. Luke Garza and Neemias Queta will have a chance to prove their value to the club.

With Boston and Indiana filling in a gap year due to injured stars, the East is open and New York is viewed as a team that can fill the void.

The Knicks were criticized for their pace under former coach Tom Thibodeau and should be faster under Mike Brown, who helped change the offensive landscape during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings.

Celtics at Knicks Predictions

Boston is expected to take a step back opening with NBA betting odds of 30/1 to win the championship. With as many as three new starters in the lineup it could take some time for the team to come together leaving them vulnerable early in the season.

The Celtics are a proud organization and they aren’t going through the motions this season. They won more than 60 games in each of the last two seasons and have topped 50 wins in four straight campaigns with an NBA crown two years ago. The roster has changed but the mystique surrounding the leprechaun has not.

They lost the playoff series last season but the Celtics have had all kinds of success against the Knicks during the regular season winning all four games a season ago and eight of the last 10, including four in a row at the Garden.

With a veteran top-heavy roster the Knicks are in win-now mode and are a favorite to win the East. New coach Mike Brown will increase the pace and also utilize his bench more than the former coach. Efficiency numbers could improve but the actual point total will likely remain similar to what we’ve seen in the past.

Celtics at Knicks Betting Tips

Playing at home against a new-look Celtics outfit will likely have the Knicks overvalued on the NBA betting line. Expectations have tumbled in Boston but the Cs have strong leadership in Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Sam Hauser.

Though they hit the 50-win mark in the last two seasons the Knicks could’ve been better had they won more at home. They were just 27-14 at the Garden in each of those seasons.

The Knicks will increase their pace under Mike Brown allowing for more scoring opportunities. That should help improve their 49-49-2 record against the total from a season ago.

Boston led the NBA by a comfortable margin in 3-pointers made and attempted last season and those numbers could increase given their changes in the frontcourt. The 3-point basket is a great neutralizer so expect the Celtics to use it to their advantage.

Celtics at Knicks Head to Head and Key Stats

Given the drastic change to Boston’s roster, recent series results are irrelevant. Playing without Tatum and Brown or both the Celtics still managed to sweep the last regular season series.