Opening night in the NBA tips off with a heavyweight tilt between the defending champion Boston Celtics and the revamped New York Knicks.
The Celtics are the team to beat after securing an NBA-record 18th NBA championship last season. The Knicks haven’t won a title since 1973, but there are sky-high hopes in NYC after a blockbuster off-season trade.
Boston is a 5.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 223.5.
Knicks vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds
New York won the regular season finale in the season-series last year, but it’s been far from dominance from the Knicks in head-to-head action as the victory snapped a five-game losing streak against the Celtics.
These teams were both winners for bettors last season, with New York going 44-37-1 against the spread and Boston going 41-36-5 ATS. It was a different story when it came to totals betting. The Knicks didn’t produce many points, playing the Under a majority 45 times. Points were plentiful for the Celtics, on the other hand. Boston hit the Over 43 times in 2023-24, the sixth-most in the league.
It’s no surprise to see these teams heavily favoured to do some damage this season. Boston is the favourite to win the championship at +325 on the NBA futures board, while New York has the third-shortest odds at +650.
As these teams are the top two favourites to win the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, I’d suggest taking their regular season win total if you want a better payout. The Celtics win total is set at 58.5, with the Over sitting at +105. That’s great value for a championship team that is coming off a 64-win season.
I also like the Over on the Knicks’ win total of 54.5 at -105. New York had 50 wins last year and they’ve increased their win total for three straight seasons. With a revamped roster, this is easily a 55-plus win team.
If you’re looking for player props, Jayson Tatum is attractive at +1500 to win MVP. Tatum won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022 and he’s been on the shortlist of players in the running for league MVP for a few seasons now.
New York Knicks
The Knicks made a massive splash a few weeks ago, trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, among others, in a three-team trade that brought back Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota. That wasn’t the only move they made as they also re-signed OG Anunoby and picked up Mikal Bridges in free agency. It’s an aggressive re-tooling that leaves Towns, Anunoby, Bridges and Jalen Brunson as the keys to ending New York’s championship drought.
There’s some bad news right off the hop, as seven-foot centre Mitchell Robinson hasn’t fully recovered from foot surgery he had in May and he might not be ready until December or January. Precious Achiuwa is also expected to miss up to a month with a hamstring injury.
Boston Celtics
Despite starting the year fresh off an NBA championship, Jayson Tatum has something to prove after he was used sparingly by Team USA at the Olympics this summer. Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the Celtics last season, but he only started three of Team USA’s six Olympic games and only appeared in four. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford and co. don’t need any more motivation to defend their title, but Tatum’s snub is still great bulletin board material to start the season with a bang.
History favours Boston in this game. The last five NBA champions who opened the following season on home court are 4-1 with an average margin of victory of a little over 13 points. One player who won’t be in the mix on Tuesday, is Kristaps Porzingis, who is expected to be out until December after off-season ankle surgery. Fortunately for Boston, it looks like a clean bill of health for the rest of the roster.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Knicks vs. Celtics?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 27 Aug 2:33pm | BOS | -4.5 -115 | O +220.5 -115 |
| Closing 12 Sep 3:44am | BOS | -5.5 -105 | U +257.5 -160 |
- Regular Season
Knicks Team Leaders
| Points |
24.87 |
| Assists |
7.8 |
| Rebounds |
13.57 |
| FG% |
70.4 |
| Steals |
1.56 |
| Blocks |
1.25 |
| Points |
28.17 |
| Assists |
5.74 |
| Rebounds |
8.87 |
| FG% |
66 |
| Steals |
1.22 |
| Blocks |
1.5 |
- Regular Season
Celtics Team Leaders
| Points |
24.87 |
| Assists |
7.8 |
| Rebounds |
13.57 |
| FG% |
70.4 |
| Steals |
1.56 |
| Blocks |
1.25 |
| Points |
28.17 |
| Assists |
5.74 |
| Rebounds |
8.87 |
| FG% |
66 |
| Steals |
1.22 |
| Blocks |
1.5 |
Injuries
Ariel Hukporti (C)
Josh Hart (SG)
Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Jalen Brunson (PG)
Cameron Payne (PG)
Tyler Kolek (PG)
Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Miles McBride (PG)
Jalen Brunson (PG)
Sam Hauser (SF)
Jaden Springer (PG)
Jayson Tatum (SF)
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)
Al Horford (C)
Derrick White (PG)
Al Horford (C)
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)
Sam Hauser (SF)
Jayson Tatum (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariel Hukporti (C) | Ques Sun | Ankle - 11 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Hukporti is dealing with a sprained left ankle, and it has yet to determined if will be active against the Magic on Sunday. |
|||||
| Josh Hart (SG) | Ques Wed | Ankle - 10 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Hart is dealing with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will play Wednesday's NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup against the Hawks. |
|||||
| Karl-Anthony Towns (C) | Prob Wed | Knee - 10 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Towns is nursing with a knee injury, but he is likely to play Wednesday's NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup against the Hawks. |
|||||
| Karl-Anthony Towns (C) | Ques Mon | Knee - 07 / 12 / 24 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Towns is battling with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play Monday versus the Raptors. |
|||||
| Jalen Brunson (PG) | Ques Sat | Back - 06 / 12 / 24 | 2-2 | 3-1 | + - |
|
Brunson is battling with a back injury, and it is unclear if he will play Saturday's game against the Pistons. |
|||||
| Cameron Payne (PG) | Ques Mon | Elbow - 04 / 12 / 24 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
|
Payne is battling with a left elbow effusion, and it is unclear if he will play Monday's game against the Raptors. |
|||||
| Tyler Kolek (PG) | Ques Sun | Illness - 27 / 11 / 24 | 4-4 | 5-3 | + - |
|
Kolek is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the New Orleans on Sunday. |
|||||
| Karl-Anthony Towns (C) | Ques Mon | Calf - 24 / 11 / 24 | 4-5 | 5-4 | + - |
|
Towns is dealing with a calf injury, and it is uncertain if he will be available against the Nuggets on Monday. |
|||||
| Miles McBride (PG) | Ques Mon | Illness - 15 / 11 / 24 | 6-7 | 9-5 | + - |
|
McBride is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Nuggets on Monday. |
|||||
| Jalen Brunson (PG) | Prob Fri | Ankle - 14 / 11 / 24 | 7-7 | 9-6 | + - |
|
Brunson is hobbled by a sprained right ankle, but he will feature in the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Nets. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Hauser (SF) | Ques Sun | Thigh - 11 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Hauser is battling a thigh injury, and it is up in the air if he will participate against the Wizards on Sunday. |
|||||
| Jaden Springer (PG) | Ques Sun | Illness - 11 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Springer is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Wizards on Sunday. |
|||||
| Jayson Tatum (SF) | Ques Sun | Knee - 11 / 12 / 24 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
|
Tatum is tending a right patella tendinopathy, and it unknown if he will take the court against the Wizards on Sunday. |
|||||
| Kristaps Porzingis (PF) | Ques Thurs | Undisclosed - 08 / 12 / 24 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
|
Porzingis left the with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be on court against Piston on Thursday. |
|||||
| Al Horford (C) | Ques Thurs | Toe - 07 / 12 / 24 | 0-3 | 2-1 | + - |
|
Horford is nursing a toe injury, and it is unclear if he will play Thursday versus Piston. |
|||||
| Derrick White (PG) | Prob Sat | Foot - 07 / 12 / 24 | 0-3 | 2-1 | + - |
|
White is nursing a foot injury, but he is expected to be active against Grizzlies on Saturday. |
|||||
| Al Horford (C) | Ques Fri | Toe - 05 / 12 / 24 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Horford is bothered by a toe injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Bucks on Friday. |
|||||
| Kristaps Porzingis (PF) | Ques Sat | Leg - 05 / 12 / 24 | 1-3 | 2-2 | + - |
|
Porzingis is nursing an lower leg injury, and it is unclear if he will be active against Grizzlies on Saturday. |
|||||
| Sam Hauser (SF) | Out | Personal - 03 / 12 / 24 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Hauser has been out of the lineup due to personal matter, and there is no timetable for return. |
|||||
| Jayson Tatum (SF) | Ques Fri | Knee - 03 / 12 / 24 | 1-4 | 2-3 | + - |
|
Tatum is nursing with right patella tendinopathy, and it is unclear if he will play Friday's game against the Bucks. |
|||||
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 27 Aug 2:33pm BOS -4.5 -115 O +220.5 -115 Closing 12 Sep 3:44am BOS -5.5 -105 U +257.5 -160 -
- Regular Season
Knicks Team Leaders
Points 24.87
Assists 7.8
Rebounds 13.57
FG% 70.4
Steals 1.56
Blocks 1.25
Points 28.17
Assists 5.74
Rebounds 8.87
FG% 66
Steals 1.22
Blocks 1.5
-
- Regular Season
Celtics Team Leaders
Points 24.87
Assists 7.8
Rebounds 13.57
FG% 70.4
Steals 1.56
Blocks 1.25
Points 28.17
Assists 5.74
Rebounds 8.87
FG% 66
Steals 1.22
Blocks 1.5
-
Injuries
Ariel Hukporti (C)
Ques Sun Ankle - 11 / 12 / 24Josh Hart (SG)
Ques Wed Ankle - 10 / 12 / 24Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 12 / 24Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Ques Mon Knee - 07 / 12 / 24Jalen Brunson (PG)
Ques Sat Back - 06 / 12 / 24Cameron Payne (PG)
Ques Mon Elbow - 04 / 12 / 24Tyler Kolek (PG)
Ques Sun Illness - 27 / 11 / 24Karl-Anthony Towns (C)
Ques Mon Calf - 24 / 11 / 24Miles McBride (PG)
Ques Mon Illness - 15 / 11 / 24Jalen Brunson (PG)
Prob Fri Ankle - 14 / 11 / 24Sam Hauser (SF)
Ques Sun Thigh - 11 / 12 / 24Jaden Springer (PG)
Ques Sun Illness - 11 / 12 / 24Jayson Tatum (SF)
Ques Sun Knee - 11 / 12 / 24Kristaps Porzingis (PF)
Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 08 / 12 / 24Al Horford (C)
Ques Thurs Toe - 07 / 12 / 24Derrick White (PG)
Prob Sat Foot - 07 / 12 / 24Al Horford (C)
Ques Fri Toe - 05 / 12 / 24Kristaps Porzingis (PF)
Ques Sat Leg - 05 / 12 / 24Sam Hauser (SF)
Out Personal - 03 / 12 / 24Jayson Tatum (SF)
Ques Fri Knee - 03 / 12 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Ariel Hukporti (C) Ques Sun Ankle - 11 / 12 / 24 0-1 0-1 + - Hukporti is dealing with a sprained left ankle, and it has yet to determined if will be active against the Magic on Sunday.
Josh Hart (SG) Ques Wed Ankle - 10 / 12 / 24 0-2 1-1 + - Hart is dealing with an ankle injury, and it is unknown if he will play Wednesday's NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup against the Hawks.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C) Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 12 / 24 0-2 1-1 + - Towns is nursing with a knee injury, but he is likely to play Wednesday's NBA Cup Quarterfinals matchup against the Hawks.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C) Ques Mon Knee - 07 / 12 / 24 1-2 2-1 + - Towns is battling with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play Monday versus the Raptors.
Jalen Brunson (PG) Ques Sat Back - 06 / 12 / 24 2-2 3-1 + - Brunson is battling with a back injury, and it is unclear if he will play Saturday's game against the Pistons.
Cameron Payne (PG) Ques Mon Elbow - 04 / 12 / 24 3-2 3-2 + - Payne is battling with a left elbow effusion, and it is unclear if he will play Monday's game against the Raptors.
Tyler Kolek (PG) Ques Sun Illness - 27 / 11 / 24 4-4 5-3 + - Kolek is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the New Orleans on Sunday.
Karl-Anthony Towns (C) Ques Mon Calf - 24 / 11 / 24 4-5 5-4 + - Towns is dealing with a calf injury, and it is uncertain if he will be available against the Nuggets on Monday.
Miles McBride (PG) Ques Mon Illness - 15 / 11 / 24 6-7 9-5 + - McBride is ailing with an illness, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Nuggets on Monday.
Jalen Brunson (PG) Prob Fri Ankle - 14 / 11 / 24 7-7 9-6 + - Brunson is hobbled by a sprained right ankle, but he will feature in the lineup for Friday's tilt versus the Nets.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Sam Hauser (SF) Ques Sun Thigh - 11 / 12 / 24 0-1 1-0 + - Hauser is battling a thigh injury, and it is up in the air if he will participate against the Wizards on Sunday.
Jaden Springer (PG) Ques Sun Illness - 11 / 12 / 24 0-1 1-0 + - Springer is ailing from an illness, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Wizards on Sunday.
Jayson Tatum (SF) Ques Sun Knee - 11 / 12 / 24 0-1 1-0 + - Tatum is tending a right patella tendinopathy, and it unknown if he will take the court against the Wizards on Sunday.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF) Ques Thurs Undisclosed - 08 / 12 / 24 0-2 1-1 + - Porzingis left the with an undisclosed injury, and it is unknown if he will be on court against Piston on Thursday.
Al Horford (C) Ques Thurs Toe - 07 / 12 / 24 0-3 2-1 + - Horford is nursing a toe injury, and it is unclear if he will play Thursday versus Piston.
Derrick White (PG) Prob Sat Foot - 07 / 12 / 24 0-3 2-1 + - White is nursing a foot injury, but he is expected to be active against Grizzlies on Saturday.
Al Horford (C) Ques Fri Toe - 05 / 12 / 24 1-3 2-2 + - Horford is bothered by a toe injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Bucks on Friday.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF) Ques Sat Leg - 05 / 12 / 24 1-3 2-2 + - Porzingis is nursing an lower leg injury, and it is unclear if he will be active against Grizzlies on Saturday.
Sam Hauser (SF) Out Personal - 03 / 12 / 24 1-4 2-3 + - Hauser has been out of the lineup due to personal matter, and there is no timetable for return.
Jayson Tatum (SF) Ques Fri Knee - 03 / 12 / 24 1-4 2-3 + - Tatum is nursing with right patella tendinopathy, and it is unclear if he will play Friday's game against the Bucks.