NBA Playoffs Game 6 Preview: Celtics vs. Knicks Prediction, Betting Odds, and Best Pick for May 16th

Revamped Write-up:

Friday night's Game 6 of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics (2-3) and New York Knicks (3-2) takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m. EST and the game will air on ESPN. As the Knicks play at home, they're the 2.5-point favorites over the Celtics, with the over/under set at 211.5 points.

The Celtics, having just avoided elimination in their previous matchup, might still have some emotional hangover. While they seem to have an edge over the Knicks, it's uncertain if they can maintain that in New York. Let's delve into my Game 6 predictions for the Celtics vs. Knicks, providing picks and insights for your wagering needs.

Bet Your Slip with My Celtics vs. Knicks Picks:

Celtics vs. Knicks Picks and Prediction for Game 6

My Game 6 best bet is on New York to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at BetMGM. However, I encourage you to shop around for the most competitive prices using our updated NBA odds page.

Spread

My Pick:

Total

Celtics vs. Knicks Odds for May 16:

Moneyline

| Celtics Odds || --- || Spread | Total | Moneyline || 2.5-110 | 211.5-105o / -115u | 118 |

| Knicks Odds || --- || Spread | Total | Moneyline || -2.5-110 | 211.5-105o / -115u | -145 |

2.5-110

BetMGM: Celtics vs. Knicks spread, Celtics vs. Knicks over/under, Celtics vs. Knicks moneyline.

211.5-105o / -115u

Celtics vs. Knicks Preview:

118

The Celtics, fresh off securing a hard-fought victory without Jayson Tatum, venture onto New York's turf for Game 6 in an attempt to force a decisive Game 7 at home.

On the other hand, the Knicks, having lost Game 5 on the road, seek to claim their spot in the conference finals for the first time since 2000.

Let's look at Tatum's impact on the series:

Without a doubt, the Celtics are a different team without Tatum. However, they've proven they can still harness our signature offensive prowess, posting a competition-leading 49 3-point attempts in their last match.

This approach requires us to prioritize raining 3s and hampering the Knicks' offensive flow. In Game 5, New York struggled mightily on 2-point shots, connecting on just 33% of their attempts.

Spread

Here's the deal:

Total

Trends suggest this game should favor New York. Since 2003:

Moneyline

Home favorites after a loss by 20+ points in Game 5 with a series lead of 3-2 have been 5-2 in Game 6 (SU) and 24-17 ATS.
Teams that have lost Game 5 on the road and won their previous 3 games at home have a 27-65 (29%) record SU (straight up) and 41-50 ATS (against the spread) as road underdogs after the first round. These statistics indicate that Boston may well be in for a tough challenge.

A possible caveat:

-2.5-110

With the last game under their belt, the Celtics may face a letdown, given the emotion-charged performances in Tatum's farewell and their possible realization of the severe impact his absence has on the team.

211.5-105o / -115u

Will our key players, especially Derrick White and an inspired Jaylen Brown, be able to keep up the momentum? Can the bench bring consistent performance on the road?

-145

My Celtics vs. Knicks Game 6 Predictions:

While I find it difficult to trust the Knicks, it's hard to look past them in this situation. Removing Tatum from the equation leaves us a different team, less potent and less versatile at both ends. Historically, the odds suggest that Boston's triumph in the last game was a fleeting victory.

Game 6s have a tendency to produce low-scoring contests, particularly without the pressure of a Game 7 to follow. Since 2003:

Game 6s, notably elimination games without the looming threat of a Game 7, have a 39-54-3 (42%) record on the Under.
Eastern Conference teams have a 55-39-2 (58%) record on the Under in Game 6s.
Post-first-round games after a team shoots better than 50% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line have a 90-60-3 (60%) record on the Under.

The script projects our offensive power to regress and for the Knicks to improve their defense, stymying the Celtics’ stellar shooting from the previous game. Famed coach Tom Thibodeau might also regroup and implement adjustments to decelerate the game's tempo. One must exercise caution on that front.

Boston's route to victory lies in its resilient defense, continuously plaguing opponents and refusing to slack off. They showcased their defensive prowess in Game 3 and almost repeated the feat in Game 4 despite Tatum's heroics.

It's a nerve-wracking conundrum playing a team at home with a series lead—do we trust the Knicks, or is there delicate hope for Boston to pull through the adversity and secure a franchise-altering Game 7?

My Game 6 Best Bets:

Knicks -2.5 (-110)
Under 211.5 (-115)
Derrick White Over 20.5 Points (-115)
Payton Pritchard Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-175)

Knicks vs. Celtics Betting Trends

69% of bets and 69% of money are on the Knicks to cover the spread.
60% of bets and 60% of money are on the moneyline for the Knicks to win outright.
97% of bets and 97% of money are on the over.

Betting trends via our live, real-time NBA public betting & money percentages page.

With the emotional high from avoiding elimination, the Celtics may struggle to maintain their edge in New York, making the Knicks the potential choice to cover the spread, as indicated by the best line at BetMGM.
In Game 6, the Celtics and Knicks are expected to offer a lower-scoring contest, given trends indicating that Eastern Conference teams have a 58% record on the Under in Game 6s, and post-first-round games after a team shoots better than 50% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line have a 60% record on the Under.