The Knicks would love nothing more than to go up 3-0 on the Celtics at home, and our NBA betting picks believe that begins with a big game from Jalen Brunson for today.
Photo By – Imagn Images. New York Knicks PG Jalen Brunson with the ball.
The New York Knicks stunned the Boston Celtics in back-to-back games at TD Garden with a pair of 20-point comebacks, timely shots from Jalen Brunson, and clutch defensive plays from Mikal Bridges.
Down 0-2 in the series, can Boston claw its way back to get a much-needed win, or will the Knicks put another nail in the coffin of a repeat championship run?
My Celtics vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks expect Brunson to lead the way for New York once again on Saturday, May 10.
Who will win Celtics vs Knicks Game 3?
Boston is the first team in NBA history to lose back-to-back playoff games in which they were up by at least 20 points in each. Despite historically dreadful shooting from beyond the arc, the C’s had a chance to go up 2-0 at home and collapsed at the end of Games 1 and 2.
Falling behind 3-0 in the series would essentially end Boston’s playoff run, so I expect a heightened sense of urgency and some positive offensive regression. I would back Boston to win this one, but it’s a tough call.
Celtics vs Knicks prediction
My best bet: Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points (-115 at bet365)
Betting on Jalen Brunson to bounce back after a poor showing has been a profitable endeavor in recent games, and I’m going back to the well.
The superstar guard delivered some clutch buckets and free throws when the New York Knicks needed it the most in Game 2, but overall, he was inefficient and had a quiet game by his standards.
After dropping 29 points in Game 1, Brunson finished Game 2 with just 17 points on 6 of 19 shooting. The last time he scored under 20 points was in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Detroit Pistons. In that one, Brunson finished with 16 points on 4 of 16 shooting. He came out with a 40-burger in Game 6 and closed out the series.
Dating back to the regular season, Brunson has scored no fewer than 27 points in each of his last five games following a sub 20-point effort. In those games, he averaged 34.4 points. Brunson rarely posts back-to-back duds on offense, and there’s no way he bucks that trend in Game 3.
Brunson has averaged 29.4 points per game in the playoffs, including 29 in three home games. He posted 16, 37, and 34 points in those contests. Brunson finished with 27 and 36 points in two home games against the Boston Celtics in the regular season, and he posted 34 and 15 in two home matchups with Boston in 2023-24. He’s gone for at least 27 in three of his last four against this team at Madison Square Garden.
Brunson has hit the Over on this modest scoring line in six of eight playoff games this season, and I fully expect a monster effort on Saturday. A win in Game 3 would slam the door on any hope of a series comeback for Boston, and Brunson should be at his best in front of the home crowd.
Celtics vs Knicks same-game parlay
Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 points
Jayson Tatum Over 27.5 points
Over 205
Jayson Tatum took full accountability for his performances in Games 1 and 2, promising to play better in Game 3. I’m taking Tatum at his word, because there’s nowhere for him to go but up after he scored a combined 36 points on 12 of 42 shooting in the first two games of the series.
Dating back to last season, Tatum has scored at least 32 points in each of his last three trips to MSG. Boston has to win this game, and Tatum will need to be the catalyst for a Celtics victory. Expect him to come out hot after falling behind 0-2 and suffering some harsh criticism for back-to-back collapses.
Game 2 concluded with an ugly 91-90 final score, and the point total for Game 3 has fallen dramatically to 205 after closing at 213 for Game 1 and 211 for Game 2. Boston and New York combined for at least 206 points in five of six meetings this season, and three of the six went for at least 235.
The Celtics have shot a miserable 25 of 100 from beyond the arc, and the team has made just 35.6% of its shots from the field in this series. Whether Boston stays true to its 3-point-heavy identity and tries to shoot out of this slump or it makes some adjustments and tries to get to the rim more often, I expect positive regression.
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Celtics vs Knicks odds
Celtics vs Knicks live odds
Celtics vs Knicks opening odds
- Spread: Boston -4.5 | New York +4.5
- Moneyline: Boston -188 | New York +168
- Over/Under: Over 205 | Under 205
Odds courtesy of bet365
Celtics vs Knicks spread and Over/Under analysis
- New York has covered in three straight games against Boston.
- The Celtics and Knicks hit the Over in three of six head-to-head matchups.
- Covers Consensus data shows 54% of spread picks siding with New York, and 60% on the Over.
Celtics vs Knicks trend
Boston and New York combined to score at least 206 points in five of six matchups this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Knicks.
How to watch Celtics vs Knicks
| Location | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY |
| Date | Saturday, 5-10-2025 |
| Tip-off | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV |
ABC |
Celtics vs Knicks latest injuries
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