NBA Pick: Celtics -6.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The front end of an NBA on TNT doubleheader Thursday features the Boston Celtics on a rare losing streak hosting the New York Knicks.
Which side of the 6.5-point Spread has the best value at the top-rated online books? Read ahead as we also have a Total play.
Let’s review the NBA odds on this NBA Eastern Conference clash and keep cashing our NBA picks!
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New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
Thursday, January 26, 2023 – 07:30 PM EST at TD Garden
Knicks at Celtics is the first game of a TNT doubleheader (and clearly the best game of the night) with Mavericks at Suns the nightcap.
It could be an Eastern Conference playoff preview as both clubs will make it in the East. Boston most likely will be the No. 1 seed, while New York may land anywhere from the NBA Play-in tournament to perhaps the No. 4 seed.
It’s the second of four regular-season meetings between the squads.
On Nov. 5 at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics rolled 133-118. Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Jayson Tatum added 26 and the Celtics made a franchise-record 27 three-pointers, shooting 52.9% from deep. Al Horford and Robert Williams didn’t play.
The Knicks shot 51.1% from the field overall and weren’t bad from three-point range at 40.7% but were outscored by 48 points there. Julius Randle had 29 points, RJ Barrett 27, and Jalen Brunson 22. Center Mitchell Robinson was out injured and is currently out again with a different injury.
Boston leads the all-time series 300-186 and is 162-66 at home with three straight wins.
Knicks Finally Find Defense
New York was a 3.5-point underdog on the NBA odds at home vs. a very good Cleveland team on Tuesday but pulled out a 105-103 victory to snap a four-game losing streak.
With starting center Mitchell Robinson out weeks with a fractured thumb, backup big man Isaiah Hartenstein came up huge vs. the Cavs with two late blocks on shot attempts by Donovan Mitchell.
“I was just trying to help any way I can, especially with Mitch being out — just trying to fill his role, just protecting the rim,” Hartenstein said. “It’s kind of what I came here for. I know myself. I’m not playing as good as I’m supposed to be playing. I feel like I'm letting the fans down, the city down a little bit. But I’m just going to keep getting better because I know I can do it. So it’s just trying to get better and represent New York.”
Hartenstein, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, had four points, nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocked shots in 23 minutes off the bench. Jericho Sims has been starting in place or Robinson but had only two points and four boards in 25 minutes.
The 103 points allowed was the Knicks’ fewest since allowing 83 points to Phoenix on Jan. 2. During the four-game skid, the Knicks allowed at least 116 points in each.
Doing the Best They Can
New York is near the bottom of the NBA in three-point shooting at 34.5% but shot 17-for-33 from deep. Julius Randle had 36 points and 13 rebounds, and his eighth three-pointer snapped a tie with 2:07 left. He has now scored 30 points or more in 14 games, including two of his last three.
Randle is of three players in the NBA averaging at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists (two-time MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are the others).
Guard Immanuel Quickley returned from a one-game injury absence and had nine points, six assists, and five rebounds off the bench. He also has been mentioned in trade rumors.
The Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their past five games.
2-For-2 On Celtics Tuesday
We previewed Boston’s game in Miami on Tuesday here at the site and recommended the Heat Moneyline and under the total of 217.5 points with the uncertain playing status of the Celtics’ Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon in the second of a back-to-back.
Only Williams played out of that trio, while the C’s also rested second-leading scorer Jaylen Brown and Al Horford.
Boston still led by 10 in the fourth quarter – Miami rested its best player in Jimmy Butler – but the Heat used a 15-0 run to get back into it and would win 98-95 thanks to a Bam Adebayo jumper with 20.4 seconds to go.
The Celtics’ 13 fourth-quarter points were their fewest in any quarter this season. They had been 26-3 when leading at halftime and 30-3 when leading after three quarters this year.
Jayson Tatum finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists for Boston (he never has had a 30-point triple-double). Derrick White scored 23 points.
Impressively Resilient C's
The Celtics had been an amazing 7-0 in the second of a back-to-back this season. It’s the fifth time the team has lost two games in a row. The only three-game skid was Dec. 16-21.
Smart, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, will not play for another week or two due to injury but Brown, Horford, and Brogdon should all go Thursday.
Boston's bench was outscored 39-10 with reserves White, Grant Williams, and Payton Pritchard moving into the starting lineup Tuesday. White likely will stay there in place of Smart.
Boston is 10-4 ATS in its last 14 Thursday games. The Under is 4-0 in the team’s past four.
NBA Pick: Under 226.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
