Knicks vs. Celtics Tonight: Champions Try to Avoid 0-2 Start in Boston

The defending champion Knicks are still waiting for their first win, and they have to go through Boston to get it. New York visits the Celtics on Friday night at TD Garden (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video), with both teams sitting at 0-1 after flat season openers. Boston is a 2.5-point home favorite with a total of 223.5.

Ugly openers on both sides

The Knicks ruined their own party on banner night, falling 106-100 to the 76ers at Madison Square Garden after raising their first championship banner in 53 years. Jalen Brunson scored 21 points but shot just 6 of 19 from the field, and the Knicks managed only 37 percent shooting as a team with 11 makes from 33 attempts beyond the arc. The Knicks rank near the bottom of the league in offensive rating through one game.

Boston did not fare much better, dropping its opener 121-113 at Detroit despite a monster Celtics debut from Paul George. George poured in 38 points with 5 rebounds after arriving in the offseason trade that sent longtime Boston guard Jaylen Brown the other way. The problem was Jayson Tatum, who shot 6 of 23 and managed just 13 points alongside 11 assists.

The matchup that matters

This is an offense-versus-defense collision. New York’s retooled attack, now featuring LeBron James and Brown alongside Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, has looked disjointed. Boston’s defense was fourth in the NBA in defensive rating last season and should be elite again even without Brown, especially with shot-blocker Mitchell Robinson in the middle.

The market is siding with the home team. Boston opened around a short favorite and the public is heavily on the Celtics, with roughly 70 percent of tickets on the home side. The Knicks did take the season series 3-1 last year, so New York knows it can win in this building.

What it means for bettors

Backing a 2.5-point home favorite usually means paying for certainty, but there is a real edge here in the matchup. The Knicks offense looked broken in the opener: 100 points on 94 shots, a cold third quarter, and two new stars still learning where to stand. Boston’s defense is the wrong unit to figure things out against, and the Celtics have George’s 38-point debut as proof they can generate scoring even on a bad Tatum night.

The total of 223.5 is worth a look as well. Both openers fell short of that number combined with their opponents, and New York’s ice-cold shooting is a trend until it is not. Shop around before tipoff: this number has moved through the week.

If you are betting Friday’s NBA slate, compare lines and grab the best number at BetUS, Bovada, or BetOnline.

21+. Bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.