7:10 pm
December 18

Knicks @ Celtics

Who will WIN this matchup?

New York Knicks (13-16)

@ Boston Celtics (14-15)

 

Current odds:

New York Knicks: (+180)

Boston Celtics: (-220)

 

• The spread for the game is Boston by 5.5 points.

• Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics will look to put Friday’s hard-fought loss to the Golden State Warriors behind them as they host the New York Knicks on Saturday night. Tatum’s totals of 27 points, eight rebounds and six assists weren’t enough in the depleted Celtics’ 111-107 loss to Golden State. Newly crowned 3-point king Stephen Curry led all scorers with 30 points on 5-of-14 shooting from deep.

• Boston overcame a 20-point first-half deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead, but ultimately came up short. It was the Celtics’ fourth loss in five games and quashed the momentum of a bounce-back win over defending champion Milwaukee on Monday. Jaylen Brown added 20 points, Marcus Smart had 19 and eight assists and Josh Richardson scored 15 for a Celtics team with five players in the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Starting center Al Horford and forwards Grant Williams and Sam Hauser were placed in COVID protocol earlier Friday. Celtics forwards Jabari Parker and Juancho Hernangomez landed in the protocol earlier in the week.

• New York is coming off a bounce-back effort in a 116-103 win at Houston on Thursday to snap a season-high four-game skid. Immanuel Quickley paced an impressive Knicks’ bench attack with a team-high 24 points. Mitchell Robinson added 17 points and Miles McBride added 15 with nine assists off the bench as just four New York reserves outscored Houston’s six-man bench 63-36.

• Evan Fournier scored 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Randle finished with 21 points, six boards and six assists for New York. The win came at a cost as starting guard Derrick Rose was ruled out with a right ankle injury after going scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting in 12 minutes. Rose is officially questionable for Saturday’s game in Boston. On Friday, Quickley joined teammates RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin, Kevin Knox and Quentin Grimes in the league’s COVID protocols. Barrett, Toppin and Grimes all missed Thursday’s win over Houston.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Boston Celtics
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