Knicks vs. Celtics Prediction: Game 2 Odds & Expert Picks

Can we expect a bounce-back effort from the Celtics in Game 2 after an upset win from the Knicks?

Mike Spector

Last updated: May 6, 2025 4:24 PM EDT • 4 min read

Knicks vs. Celtics Prediction — Pictured: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum reacts after beating the Orlando Magic. Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn.

After stealing Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics, the New York Knicks head to TD Garden for Game 2 (7 p.m. ET, TNT/truTV) as anywhere from 10- to 10.5-point underdogs while getting +375 moneyline odds as we make our Knicks vs. Celtics prediction.

Our NBA picks expect a big bounce-back performance from Boston, but we find the best value in the betting odds for the total as opposed to the point spread.

💰 Knicks vs. Celtics expert picks for Game 2

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✅ Against the spread pick: Celtics -10 (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Celtics (-460 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Under 211 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐

🏀 Game 2 prediction & best bet

🎯 Score prediction: Celtics 110, Knicks 97

New York held Boston to 44 points during the second half of Game 1 and overtime. I'm giving the Knicks' defense a lot of credit for that, instead of dismissing it as just a poor shooting performance from the Celtics.

Boston shot 15-of-60 from 3-point range, and its 45 missed 3-pointers were the most in playoff history, eclipsing the previous record of 40. The Knicks also contributed to the Under cashing on 213.5 in Game 1 despite the extra five-minute overtime period while shooting 54.8% from the free-throw line.

Over backers will likely look at both of those statistics and suggest there's bound to be positive regression in Game 2. But Mitchell Robinson added to New York’s free-throw shooting woes significantly while going 3-for-10 at the charity stripe.

I don't expect Tom Thibodeau to play him less to prevent Boston from using the “hack-a-Robinson” strategy, as he was plus-13 in Game 1.

Boston also enters Game 2 in a bit of a quandary regarding what to do offensively. Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Sam Hauser (ankle) were limited to just 17 combined minutes in Game 1. They're massive components of the Celtics’ 3-point success with the duo's ability to space the floor, and their potential absences would result in clogged driving lanes for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Overall fatigue is another factor in favor of the Under. A combined seven of the two teams’ starters played at least 44 minutes on Monday, surely resulting in some tired legs after just one day off.

The total has lowered a full point at many of the best NBA betting sites. Therefore, I'm taking advantage of this loftier total at Caesars before the line plummets further, especially if Boston receives bad news about the availability of Porzingis or Hauser.

✅ Best bet: Under 211 (-110 via Caesars)

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📈 Knicks vs. Celtics odds

Live updated odds from our best sports betting sites.

🪧 Game 2 opening odds

Opening odds via BetMGM.

Spread: Knicks +9.5 (-105) | Celtics -9.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Knicks +350 | Celtics -450
Over/Under: Over 211.5 (-110) | Under 211.5 (-110)

🚑 Knicks vs. Celtics injury report

Follow the official NBA injury report for more injury news.

💡Knicks vs. Celtics betting insights

Here are some betting insights from BetMGM.

The Knicks are getting plenty of attention from spread bettors, with 63% favoring them to cover +10.5.
The total quickly sunk from 211.5 to 210.5 after opening, with 64% of the action on the Over.
The spread opened at -9.5 in favor of the Celtics before promptly shifting to -10.5.

📡 How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics live Game 2

📅 Wednesday, May 7
🕗 7 p.m. ET
📍 TD Garden (Boston)
📺 TNT/truTV | 🛜 Max

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Written By:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”