The New York Knicks will play the Boston Celtics in Game 6 tonight to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Celtics lost Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles in Game 4, but survived in Game 5 at home to force a Game 6. Still, the Knicks lead 3-2 in the series and will be favorites ahead of tonight’s game against Boston.
Boston made some adjustments in Game 5. Ultimately, they had no chance once Tatum was ruled out. They played Luke Kornet for most of the game, and he balled out. He was close to a triple-double with points, rebounds and blocks. But you’d like to think the Knicks will make adjustments to prevent Kornet from having a big game again.
New York will want to be more physical and play with more energy on the defensive end. That’s what cost them in Game 5. Of course, if the Knicks lose tonight, they’ll be underdogs in a Game 7 on the road. So while this isn’t a must-win for the Knicks, it certainly feels like it is.
Let’s give it a closer look before heading to the top-rated sportsbooks.
Picks Summary
- Celtics +2.5 (-105)
- Under 211.5 (-110)
- Josh Hart Under 5.5 Assists (-154)
*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Friday, May 16, 2025 – 08:00 PM EDT at Madison Square Garden
I asked the AI Model for some pointers on best bets for tonight’s Game 6 matchup. The Model believes the Knicks will defeat the Celtics, 106-104, implying that the Celtics will cover a 2.5-point spread at -105. Additionally, the Model thinks the total will reach 210, but the total right now is at 211.5.
The Celtics against the spread and the Under 211.5 are the plays in this game. Plus, the AI Model thinks Josh Hart will finish with 3.809 assists tonight. His prop is at 5.5, with the under at -154. That’s another play to consider tonight.
Are The Celtics Still Fine Offensively?
There were times in this second-round series when Jayson Tatum was the lone consistent contributor for the Boston Celtics. However, with Tatum down, others stepped up. Derrick White was scorching-hot from three, and Luke Kornet played impressive defense in their Game 5 win. Plus, Jaylen Brown had his moments after struggling from three for most of the series.
The Celtics still rank third in the NBA in points per 100 possessions. They’re getting to the foul line at a high rate and have shot a better effective field goal percentage than the Knicks, hitting at a 54.7% mark.
The Knicks are great at forcing turnovers. Yet, the Celtics have given up just 14% of turnovers in the playoffs. Boston has also earned nearly 30% of offensive rebounds, which has helped since the Knicks have allowed 31.3% of offensive rebounds in the playoffs.
Most of all, the Celtics are getting to the foul line at a very high rate, and the Knicks foul at a very high rate. That favors the Celtics, of course.
Can Boston Continue To Force Bad Shots?
The Knicks have shot an effective field goal percentage of 50.9% in the playoffs. That ranks 17th in the playoffs this year. On the other hand, the Celtics have limited their playoff opponents to a 48.5% effective field goal percentage. That’s the best number in the NBA during this stretch.
New York should be able to keep turnovers down and add a solid amount of offensive rebounds. But the Celtics should be able to get better looks from the field and earn way more foul shots.
Look for both teams to defend better in Game 6, but the Knicks certainly won’t run away with this game.
Josh Hart Is a Scorer Now!
Josh Hart earned a career high in triple-doubles this season. However, he’s become a scorer for the Knicks in the playoffs.
Hart has added no more than five assists in six consecutive games, including in all of the games against the Celtics. We expect the Celtics to cover and the under to hit, so if that happens, Hart likely didn’t do enough on the offensive end, including a high rate of assists.
The Picks
- Celtics +2.5 (-105)
- Under 211.5 (-110)
- Josh Hart Under 5.5 Assists (-154)
*All odds from Caesars Sportsbook
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-Gambler
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
