NBA Odds: Celtics (even)
The New York Knicks (10-45) look to end their seven-game losing streak when they take on the Boston Celtics (21-33) at TD Garden. The game gets underway at 7:30 pm ET on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and will air on MSG and CSN-NE.
The Celtics beat the Suns 115-110 on Monday. Avery Bradley was the game’s high scorer with 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting. The Knicks, meanwhile, are coming off a demoralizing 101-83 loss at the hands of the Cavaliers on Sunday. Lou Amundson stood out for New York, accumulating 10 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
This game should be a battle of contrasting styles. The Celtics (ranked third in the league in possessions per game) prefer a fast-breaking style of play, while the Knicks (28th) are more half-court-oriented.
The two teams have split their matchups this season. The Celtics had the upper hand in the most recent game, a 108-97 win. Bradley was the game’s leading scorer with 26 points.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is unavailable at the moment. The Celtics enter the game with records of 21-33 Straight Up (SU) and 30-24 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games.
On the other side, New York has a SU record of 10-45 and an ATS record of 21-32-2. New York has a record of 3-6 SU and 5-4 ATS against the Atlantic.
Following the Celtics’ latest win over New York, the two teams’ head-to-head record is now an even 5-5 SU in their last 10 games. They are even bets ATS in their last 10 meetings as well. New York has held the edge in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) five times over the last 10, while Boston accomplished this twice.
Predictions: SU Winner – BOS, ATS Winner – BOS
Notes
Boston puts up an average of 101.3 points per game (ranked 11th). New York ranks 20th in points allowed per game with 100.5.
New York ranks 28th in points allowed per road game (102.4 PPG), while Boston ranks 14th in points per home game with 101.9.
In its last game, New York lost by an 18-point margin. Boston is 2-2 in games decided by a margin of 18 points or more. New York has a 0-11 record in blowouts.
When New York gives up fewer than 100 points, it has a poor 9-17 record this season. Boston also has an underachieving record when it scores fewer than 100 (4-17).
At 1-28, the New York Knicks have an abysmal record when their opponents score 100 points or more. The Boston Celtics are 17-16 when they hit the century mark.
The Knicks have an offensive rating of 98.7 (ranked 28th), while the Celtics rank 13th for their defensive rating of 102.6.
Boston has an average field goal percentage of 44.4%. New York is an underachieving 3-33 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
On average, Boston attempts 23.7 three pointers and New York attempts 20.3 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, both have losing records. The Celtics are 7-12 while the Knicks sit at 1-12.
The Boston Celtics, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.78, rank sixth in the NBA. The New York Knicks have a lower A/TO (1.60), ranking 17th.
The New York Knicks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league with just 39.9 per game. Ranked 13th, the Boston Celtics average 43.8 rebounds.
Boston is ranked 10th in defensive rebounds, while New York ranks 16th in offensive rebounds.
New York is one of the top teams in forced turnovers, with opponents averaging a TOV% of 14.9% (ranked 10th). Boston has a subpar record of 4-11 SU this season when its TOV% reaches 14.9% or greater.
