The Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have found themselves in quite a series as game six looms tonight. The big headline is the fact that the Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury, but they managed to stay alive in game five without him. New York has done an excellent job of battling back in this series, too, as they overcame 20-point deficits in both games one and two in this series. The Knicks may lack the depth the Celtics are used to, but there is no denying the talent their starting five has. Jalen Brunson continues to deliver clutch play after clutch play, and the Knicks will desperately want to end this series tonight rather than going back to Boston for game seven. Can the defending champions pull out another gutsy victory, or will New York advance to the third round for the first time this century?
Matchup: Celtics vs Knicks Overview
- Teams: Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks
- Date: Friday, May 16th, 2025
- Time: Tip-off is at 8:00 PM EST
- Venue: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Win Probabilities:
The NBA win probabilities expect a close game in the Big Apple tonight, but the home team has been given the advantage. The New York Knicks have a 62.44% chance of winning this NBA game, while the Boston Celtics are bouncing back with a 37.56% win probability.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score can be calculated using expert NBA picks in combination with insights from recent NBA games. The New York Knicks have home court advantage, and their strong starting five has given them an edge with a projected final score of New York Knicks 110-103 Boston Celtics.
Celtics vs Knicks Odds
The NBA odds expect the reigning champions to bow out of the playoffs when they visit New York to take on the Knicks. Boston is a +120 underdog to force a game seven in this series, and there are not many points expected tonight. The low total points are due to Tatum remaining out, and both of these teams will bring game-seven-like intensity to the defensive end of the court.
| Boston Celtics | New York Knicks | |
| Moneyline | +120 | -160 |
| Spread | +3 (-120) | -3 (-120) |
| Total | Over 211.5 Points (-120) | Under 211.5 Points (-120) |
Expert Prediction: Who Will Win?
Why the Boston Celtics Could Win
The Boston Celtics may be missing Jayson Tatum, but that doesn’t take away from their extensive playoff experience all over their roster. They have an identical team to their championship-winning roster last season, and many of their role players have gotten even better this year. Tatum’s absence will loom large, but Jaylen Brown can pick up the slack.
Jaylen Brown won both ECFMVP and FVMP last season with the Celtics, and his impact on both ends of the court cannot be overstated. Brown is capable of dishing out assists to his teammates and can also pull up from deep with an inch of space. His work rate on defense has been steadily improving, too, and he can fill into his leadership position with Tatum sidelined. While Brown will be responsible for the offense, the Celtics’ season rests on the shoulders of Jrue Holiday on the defensive end of the court.
Holiday will be tasked with slowing down Jalen Brunson, who is one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA. He is long overdue for a DPOY award, given his ability to clamp down on the best shooters in the league. The Knicks’ offense runs through Brunson on every possession, and if Holiday can not stop, but even limit his effectiveness, the Celtics can send this one back home for game seven.
Looking for more NBA matchup insights? Don’t miss our prediction for the upcoming Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder predictions
Why the New York Knicks Could Win
The New York Knicks fought hard to earn a 3-1 lead in this series, and they will be desperate to avoid going back to Boston for game seven. New York has shown incredible adversity to keep this one close, as not long ago, they were +550 underdogs to advance against the defending champions. They overcame not one but two 20-point deficits to take an early series lead and haven’t looked back since.
New York hasn’t reached the third round of the NBA playoffs in more than 25 years and is now one win away from doing so. Jalen Brunson deserves all the credit he gets for what he has done for this team, but the arrival of Karl-Anthony Towns has truly elevated the Knicks to the next level. Towns has given the Knicks the interior threat they have been craving, and his pick-and-roll game with Brunson is challenging to slow down. Once you factor in the defensive impacts of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, it is no surprise to see New York with a lead heading into game six. The Knicks are the healthier team at this stage of the season, and without Tatum on the other end of the court, their depth is unlikely to get exposed. Madison Square Garden will be rocking tonight, and this is certainly a game where you do not want to miss out on the chance to make free NBA picks and predictions.
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