New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Pick and Odds (Feb 8)

• The Knicks are 34-17 and have the second-best record in the Atlantic Division.
• Boston is 36-16 and has the best record in the Atlantic Division by 1.5 games.
• These teams last played on Oct. 22, 2024, with the Celtics coasting to a 132-109 victory.

One of the games on tap from Saturday night’s NBA slate features the New York Knicks hosting the Boston Celtics. Can New York win its third straight in our Knicks vs Celtics pick?

Knicks Look To Close The Gap Against Division Rival

After a 128-112 setback against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, the Knicks have won their past two games, including a 121-115 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

New York got solid performances from multiple players. While he wasn’t the team’s leading scorer, Karl-Anthony Towns had the most noteworthy performance, finishing with 27 points and 20 rebounds.

Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 28 points and handed out five assists. Mikal Bridges and Precious Achiuwa added 17 points each, while Josh Hart chipped in with 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

The Knicks were up by 23 points but saw that lead dwindle to one point late in the fourth quarter. However, Brunson delivered in crunch time, knocking down a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left, sealing the win for New York.

A win for the Knicks would move them within a half-game of the Celts for the No. 2 spot in the conference playoff race.

Celtics Coming Off A Disappointing Home Loss Against Mavs

On the other side of the matchup, the Celtics’ recent four-game winning streak ended as they dropped a 127-120 decision against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Jaylen Brown was the primary catalyst for the Cs, scoring 25 points along with four assists.

Payton Pritchard added 21 points off the bench, while Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 17 points each.

Dallas dominated the contest through the first three quarters and led by a 114-90 margin in the final frame. Boston made it somewhat interesting, outscoring Dallas 30-13 the rest of the way.

Please make no mistake about it, though: the final seven-point margin was not indicative of how well the Mavericks played against the defending champions.

The loss dropped the Celtics to 16-10 at TD Garden this season. And the team is 5-7 at home since Dec. 19.

Knicks vs Celtics Pick: Boston Stays Hot Against New York

The Knicks have posted seven wins across their last eight contests. They have the fourth-best scoring defense and boast a top-five offense.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have gone 4-2 in their previous six outings. This squad excels at both ends of the floor, placing fourth in offensive efficiency and sixth in defensive rating.

The Celtics have won five of the previous meetings between these franchises. While this one should go down to the wire, look for Boston to get another win in this series.