Bettors will be looking to hit pay dirt on Monday when the Knicks face the Celtics in Atlantic Division action at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are pushing to maintain the No. 6 seed in the East while the Celtics are jockeying for first overall with the Bulls and Heat. Expect the Celtics to open as slight road chalk in this one, which could translate to the best NBA home underdog odds being posted at Sportsbook later today.
View Boston vs New York Odds and Stats.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
This game pits the Knicks, currently No. 16 in the Odds Shark NBA Power Rankings, against the Celtics, who rate No. 10 in the most recent survey. Meanwhile, math and computer handicapping models run on this game predict a 106-101 victory for the Celtics.
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up New York's No. 2-ranked offense (106.4 PPG) against a Celtics defense that ranks No. 1 at 91 PPG. The Knicks have averaged 46% from the field per game, less than the Celtics have managed so far this season (48.8% on average).
In comparing how the teams stack up statistically, the Celtics own the league's No. 1-rated mark, allowing 90.2 points per game when on the road. New York, on the other hand, rates No. 2 in home scoring.
Last time out for Boston, they were an 89-85 Sportsbook as they battled the Hornets on the road. The Celtics covered in the match as a 1-point favorite, while 174 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Celtics grabbed an 89-85 win over the Hornets on Saturday, behind a 20-point effort from Ray Allen at New Orleans Arena.
Last time out for New York, they were a 100-95 loser as they battled the Bucks on the road. The Knicks failed to cover in the match as a 2-point favorite, while 195 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Amar'e Stoudemire scored 25 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double, but his team still lost 100-95 against Milwaukee in NBA action at Bradley Center.
Boston Celtics Trends:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing Memphis are 6-4
After playing New Orleans are 6-4
After a win are 6-4
New York Knicks Trends:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing Orlando are 3-7
After playing Milwaukee are 3-7
After a loss are 6-4
A few Celtics at Knicks trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games on the road
Boston is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games when playing New York
Boston is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against New York
New York is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New York's last 7 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of New York's last 6 games at home
New York is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games when playing at home against Boston
Next up:
Boston home to Memphis, Wednesday, March 23
New York home to Orlando, Wednesday, March 23
