Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Prediction, Betting Odds, Picks

• The Celtics look to push their win streak to three in a row!
• The Knicks look to get back on the winning track after taking a victory in their last game.
• The Knicks and Celtics have split the season series so far, 1-1.

Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Odds

Head-to-Head: Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks

Injury Report

How Can the Celtics Beat the Knicks?

The Boston Celtics seem to have things sorted on the offensive side of the court, especially if Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are leading the way. It’ll be how Boston manages RJ Barrett and Julius Randle, the centerpieces of New York’s offense, which will determine the outcome of this game.

Randle and Barrett boast a usage percentage of 27.9% and 24.4% respectively. With both Derrick Rose and Kemba Walker out of the lineup, the burden of running the Knicks offense is squarely on the young pair’s shoulders.

Boston have improved on the defensive end, actually holding Randle to just 39.1% shooting from the field in their two meetings this season. Barrett has been the more successful of the pair, though to win this game it may be crucial for the Celtics to sacrifice the success of one to shut down the other.

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Celtics Key Player: (G) Jaylen Brown

? In his first game since dropping 50 PTS, Jaylen Brown is heating up early!

He’s up to 14 in the first quarter on NBA League Pass! ⤵
https://t.co/L8Rrlv9ZoR pic.twitter.com/48amOY6jDd

— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2022

The Boston Celtics may be lacking some key contributors in this matchup, but Jaylen Brown seems just fine with picking up the slack.

In his last game, a win over the Orlando Magic, Brown posted an incredible 50 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists in 46 minutes of play.

Brown’s consistency throughout the game, on top of his surge in the final quarter, was why the Celtics were able to push the game into overtime. His scoring talents will be on full display against the Knicks.

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How Can the Knicks Beat the Celtics?

The Boston Celtics have won their last two games through two very different means of victory. If New York hope to defeat Boston, they must buckle down on the defensive end in order to take a victory.

The Knicks seem to have the scoring side sorted, but they’re rather inconsistent on the defensive end. In their last two games, the Boston Celtics have shot 49.7% from the field and 36.5% from deep.

Boston’s immense scoring rate is offset by the 19.0 turnovers they’ve averaged through their last two games. Should New York want to steal a win from their rivals, they’ll need to take advantage of Boston’s lack of ball security on top of limiting good opportunities.

Knicks Key Player: (F) Julius Randle

.@J30_RANDLE gets to his spot and pushes the lead to 9. He’s got 29. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/DvRVjVMrsg

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 5, 2022

Despite missing the Knicks’ last two games, Julius Randle returned to the Knicks lineup in tremendous form. He bullied the Indiana Pacers into one of his best performances of the year.

Randle posted 30 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 assists in just under 39 minutes of play. The Knicks veteran took command in the third quarter, where he shot 5 of 7 and scored 14 of his 30 points.

The Knicks All-Star won’t get a break when he faces Boston and their suffocating interior defense. If New York hopes to win, expect Randle to have a good night shooting from the perimeter.

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