Celtics vs Knicks NBA Pick: Boston Aims To Even The Series at 1-1 (May 7)

• The Boston Celtics had a sizeable lead, but failed to close the deal in the opener.
• Meanwhile, the New York Knicks look to continue their hot streak on the road.
• These squads last played on May 5, with the Knicks claiming a three-point victory.

One of the games on Wednesday’s NBA slate features the Boston Celtics hosting the New York Knicks in Game 2 of a second-round Eastern Conference playoff series. Will Boston bounce back, or go down 0-2 in our Celtics vs Knicks pick?

Celts-Knicks Game 1 Recap

The Cs punched their ticket to the semifinal round with a 120-89 romp over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of that series. However, they came up short against the New York Knicks 108-105 despite leading by as many as 20 points.

Jayson Tatum tied for team-high scoring honors with 23 points. He also tallied 16 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.

Jaylen Brown added 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for a Celtics squad that shot just 35 percent from the field.

On the other side of the matchup, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby were the top performers for the Knicks. Brunson finished with 29 points and five assists. Anunoby also scored 29 points and knocked down six of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc.

Boston led by 20 points in the third quarter, but New York rallied to force overtime. The Knicks led 106-100 early in the extra frame and 108-105 with three seconds left to play.

On the game’s final possession, Mikal Bridges stole the ball from Brown to preserve the road team’s improbable win.

Celtics vs Knicks Pick: Who Has The Edge In Game 2?

Despite faltering down the stretch in the series opener, the Celtics enter this matchup as a massive 10.5-point favorite, according to BetOnline. Here are a few betting trends for both sides looking ahead to Game 2.

• The Celtics are 16-4 straight-up (SU) in their last 20 games.
• Boston has covered the spread four times in its previous six home outings against New York.
• The Knicks are 2-8 in the previous 10 matchups between these franchises.
• New York is 2-4 ATS in its previous six road contests against Boston.

The Knicks deserve props for overcoming a large deficit to clinch their third consecutive road win in the playoffs. At the same time, Boston will not miss 45 3-point shots in consecutive games. With that in mind, look for the guys in green to level the series at 1-1 when these teams clash on Wednesday night.