Celtics vs Knicks Predictions, Picks & Player Props (April 8)

• The Boston Celtics are three-point favorites on the road vs the New York Knicks Tuesday
• New York will try to avoid a regular-season sweep at the hands of the Celtics
• See my Celtics vs Knicks predictions, player props, and odds on April 8

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It’s a potential Round 2 playoff battle Tuesday night, when the Boston Celtics (58-20, 32-7 away) visit the New York Knicks (50-28, 27-12 home). It’s the final matchup of the regular season between these teams, with Boston looking for a 4-game series sweep.

Action gets underway from Madison Square Garden beginning at 7:30pm ET, with TNT carrying the broadcast. Not surprising that the team with the best road record in the league is the betting favorite in the NBA odds.

Celtics vs Knicks Odds

The Celtics enter as three-point road favorites, including a short -154 on the moneyline. The Knicks, meanwhile, are the underdog on the moneyline at +130 odds. The total checks in at 223.5 points, with -110 odds on either side. The Over has cashed in four of the last six meetings between these clubs.

Odds as of April 8 at FanDuel. Be sure to check out the best FanDuel promo code before placing a bet on any NBA game on Tuesday.

Boston’s been tinkering with its lineup in the stretch run of the season, giving its stars games to rest and heal, for optimal readiness for the postseason. Tuesday should be no different. Jayson Tatum (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) both sat out Sunday’s game against the Wizards, but their status is not yet known vs the Knicks.

For the first time in a long time, New York’s injured list is small, with almost their entire rotation back in the fold. Only reserve center Ariel Hukporti (knee) remains out with a knee injury, expected to keep him out for an extended period.

BOS vs NYK Player Props

NBA player props from DraftKings and FanDuel on April 8.

Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson are tied for the highest scoring prop for all players at 25.5 points. Tatum has gone Under this total in three straight games, but he’s topped this total twice in three games vs the Knicks, missing the third by a single point.

Brunson made his return to the Knicks lineup after 15 straight games out to deal with an ankle injury. He eased back into it with 15 points on 3-for-9 shooting in a 112-98 blowout win over the Suns.

OG Anunoby might be the best value here, at 17.5 points. He’s on the best scoring binge of his career, scoring at least 23 points in 10 straight games. Even with Brunson back, he should still get plenty of opportunity to play third scoring wheel behind Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Picks

• Celtics vs Knicks pick: Knicks ML (+130)
• Celtics vs Knicks prop bet: Anunoby Over 17.5 points (-115)

This. one means infinitely more to the Knicks, who have struggled against the top teams in the Eastern Conference, with no wins in six games so far this season.

Critics of the Knicks will also point to the fact that they own the most wins in the NBA against teams with a losing record, at 38-9, while going just 12-19 vs teams .500 and above.

It’s also important because Brunson needs to find his game footing after being out since early February when he suffered an ankle sprain against the Lakers. He’ll get a chance to see both the Celtics and the Cavaliers (April 11) in the Knicks’ final five games, while also getting a look at the Pistons, their likely Round 1 opponent.

For the Celtics, they quietly found their groove amidst the trades, turmoil and historic runs by the Thunder and the Cavaliers in their respective conferences.

Boston has just two losses in its last 18 games, including a 124-90 whipping of Washington last game. A team that was at one time 36-16 is just two wins away from cracking the 60-win plateau.

The Celtics are third in the NBA in points allowed at 107.6 points, ranking in the top four in both field goal and 3-point shooting defense.

Offensively, they’re top eight in the league putting up 116.9 points per game, while still jacking up the most triple attempts (48.3 per game) and hitting at a solid 37% clip.

Joe Mazzulla has been able to work his players in and out of the lineup while still surging, because Boston has the deepest and most well-rounded roster in basketball.

Boston has won seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings and gone 7-1-0 against the spread.

However, the urgency is on the Knicks to show they can compete with the champs, and with the MSG crowd waiting to rock behind them — a place where they’ve won five of the last six overall — I like the Knicks to take one from their division rivals.