Free NBA Pick: Knicks vs. Celtics NBA Odds
Looking for New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Knicks taking on the Celtics on Saturday, January 8th, 2022 at TD Garden. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Knicks Celtics matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(19-20) New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (18-21)
Date: Saturday, January 8th
Time: 7:30 PM EST
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
NBA Moneyline Odds: Knicks +268 | Celtics -291 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Celtics -7
NBA Betting Total: 208.5
Saturday, January 8th, 2022, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics play for the fourth and final time this season. New York won the initial meeting on October 20th in overtime (138-134) while Boston took the December 18th match 114-107.
The clubs are playing a home and home series with the Knicks taking the first match on Thursday erasing the Celtics double-digit lead in the victory.
New York Knicks
Trailing by 25 points with almost four minutes remaining in the second quarter it looked like the Knicks were headed for another double-digit loss.
Instead, they came out of halftime roaring back outscoring the Celtics 61-42 while RJ Barrett made the comeback fully complete via a buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
It may not have been the bing bong game but it was the most exciting win since that overtime game at season start. Evan Fournier had not only his best game as a Knick but of his career scoring 41 points, and hitting 10 of 14 deep balls.
Julius Randle had an interesting night scoring 22 points, grabbed eight boards, and also found time to give the MSG faithful the thumbs down which he later explained was in response to their recent criticism (umm – does he know he plays in the Mecca for the Knicks?).
Although Barrett hit the most important shot he struggled to score shooting 4 of 15 for 13 points. Immanuel Quickley was the other double-figure contributor with 16 points.
Nerlens Noel (conditioning) and Fournier (thigh) are questionable for Saturday while Kemba Walker (knee) was downgraded to out. Derrick Rose (ankle) is out indefinitely.
Boston Celtics
As I noted in a recent preview the Celtics aren’t a team that can feel comfortable with a double-digit lead. Yet again they allowed a team to come back after building a lead of at least 19 points (something they’ve done four times this season).
It’s like the Celtics forget how to play when a team comes back on them. That’s obvious given how poorly they play in the clutch having only converted seven clutch time opportunities out of 23 into victories.
Coach Ime Udoka questioned the teams’ leadership and essentially their grit:
“It wasn’t about the last play again. It was everything leading up to it. We need some leadership. Somebody that can calm us down and not get rattled when everything starts to go a little south. I think it snowballs between our guys.”
Clearly, there is something not meshing with this Celtics squad who recently needed 50 points from Jaylen Brown to win an overtime game versus the shorthanded 7-32 Magic.
After each solid victory, the players have assured they’ve turned a corner – – but this loss only served as evidence to the contrary.
Payton Pritchard (quarantine) and Brodric Thomas (back) are questionable for Saturday.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Celtics are 7-3 in the last 10 head to head
- The Celtics are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings
- Over Under is 4-6 in the teams last 10 head to head matchups
- The Knicks are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games.
- The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New York’s last 7 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 January games
Free New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics NBA Prediction:
It’s gut-check time for the Celtics who have to stop talking about how things are improving and show it on the court.
With Walker out and Fournier also in question coupled with the embarrassing loss on Thursday Celtics players know fully well the TD Garden faithful will let them hear it if they don’t step up and make amends.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Celtics -7
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