Boston faces favorable odds to win Game 3 against the Knicks, the series, and potentially the Eastern Conference, despite being down 0-2 in the standings.
Celtics Face Close Series Against Knicks in Playoffs, Odds Favour New York for NBA Finals
The 2025 NBA playoffs are heating up, and the matchup between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks is proving to be a competitive one. The sports betting market reflects this, with the series correct score odds indicating a close series with the Knicks slightly favoured [1].
The odds for the series correct score include Celtics 4-2 at 400, Celtics 4-3 at 200, Knicks 4-0 at 525, Knicks 4-1 at 675, Knicks 4-2 at 420, Knicks 4-3 at 850, Celtics winning in 5 games at 200, Celtics winning in 6 games at 400, Knicks winning in 4 games at 500, Knicks winning in 5 games at 700, Knicks winning in 6 games at 800, and Knicks winning in 7 games at 1200 [2].
The Knicks have been impressive so far, with their last five postseason victories coming by a combined ten points, including an overtime win in Game 1. The team's centre, Mitchell Robinson, has been a standout player, with a team-high +32 plus/minus in the first two matchups of this series [3].
Jalen Brunson, on the other hand, has yet to tally an ultra-efficient performance in this series, but he generated nine fourth-quarter points in Game 2, including the final six points to secure the victory [4].
The Celtics have faced spreads ranging from about -2.5 to -10.5 points against the Knicks in various games, with results generally competitive but leaning toward Knicks wins in the series context [5]. In the regular season, the Celtics ranked in the 97th percentile on spot-up jumpers, hitting 40.4% of its three-point attempts in those situations [6].
However, for the NBA Finals futures betting markets, the Celtics have longer odds compared to the Knicks, indicating less confidence in Boston winning the title. For instance, Celtics futures odds to win the 2025-26 NBA Finals hovered around +1500 to +1800, whereas the Knicks had better odds in the +750 to +850 range [1][3][4].
The Knicks are currently -115 underdogs to win Game 3 against the Celtics [7]. The Celtics have been -8.5 and -10.5 favorites in Games 1 and 2, going 25-for-100 (25%) from behind the arc over this span [5].
The series schedule includes Game 3 on Saturday, May 10 at New York, Game 4 on Monday, May 12 at New York, and potential games 5, 6, and 7 [8]. The Knicks are historically the biggest Game 3 home underdog, leading a series 2-0, since the 1993 Lakers (+7) [9].
In summary, the sports betting market reflects a close but slightly Knicks-favoured position in the series, with the Celtics often listed as slight underdogs on the spread in recent matchups. However, for the NBA Finals, the Knicks are favoured over the Celtics, with the Celtics having longer odds to win the championship.
References:
- ESPN
- CBS Sports
- Yahoo Sports
- Bleacher Report
- Forbes
- StatMuse
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- NBA.com
- FiveThirtyEight
- Despite the Boston Celtics giving a tough fight against the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA playoffs, the sports betting market suggests a slight advantage for the Knicks in the series.
- The Knicks have been surprising underdogs in Game 3 against the Celtics, with odds of -115, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
- The series schedule indicates that Game 3 will be played on Saturday, May 10 at New York, followed by Game 4 on Monday, May 12, with potential games 5, 6, and 7 following.
- The Knicks have emerged as the favourites for the NBA title, with shorter odds compared to the Celtics in the futures betting markets, as reported by ESPN, Yahoo Sports, and Bleacher Report.
- The Celtics have struggled to maintain their offensive momentum, shooting only 25% from behind the arc in Games 1 and 2, which has contributed to their underdog status on the spread.
- In the sports-betting landscape, the Celtics have been labelled as the underdogs in most of their matchups against the Knicks, with the odds favoring the Knicks in the series correct score.
- The Knicks' recent impressive performances, including their last five postseason victories coming by a combined ten points, have further solidified their status as a promising wager for sports bettors.
