Trent Reinsmith
- What: New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
- Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023
- Location: TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: TNT
The NBA-leading Boston Celtics look to avoid their second three-game losing skid of the 2023 NBA season as they face the New York Knicks tonight on TNT in Week 15 NBA action.
The Celtics, who have a 35-14 record, lead the Eastern Conference, but the team enters tonight’s game with two straight road losses. Boston has only lost three in a row during the 2023 NBA season once, dropping home games to the Orlando Magic (two) and the Indiana Pacers between December 16-21, 2022. The Celtics are 18-5 at home, 20-10 against Eastern Conference and 6-0 against Atlantic Division opposition.
The Knicks, who are in the No. 3 spot in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the East with a record of 26-23 are coming off a home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. That victory ended a slide of four consecutive losses for the Knicks. New York is 14-10 on the road, 17-14 in Eastern Conference play and 4-9 against other teams from the Atlantic Division.
Before we look at the betting breakdown for tonight’s TNT NBA matchup between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, check out our guide to betting on the 2023 NBA Finals and our tips for betting on the NBA.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics picks for January 26, 2023
| Teams |  |  |
| New York Knicks | +270 | +255 |
| Boston Celtics | -340 | -330 |
New York Knicks breakdown
After finishing the 2022 NBA season with a 37-45 record and missing the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years, the Knicks look poised to play in the postseason in 2023.
New York is being led by Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson and R.J. Barrett in the 2023 NBA season. The 28-year-old Randle is tops on the Knicks in points (24.6), rebounds (10.9) and minutes (35.7). While the 26-year-old Brunson, who averages 22.3 points per game, is the team leader in assists (6.2) and steals (1.0). Fellow starter R.J. Barrett is not far off the scoring pace of Randle and Brunson with an average of 20.2 points per game.
The Knicks average 113.5 points per game on the road and give up 112 away from MSG.
Boston Celtics breakdown
The Celtics have been the best team in the NBA for most of the 2023 NBA season. That’s not surprising when the team’s biggest stars, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart are playing at the top of their games. Tatum leads the team in points (31.0), rebounds (8.6) and minutes (37.1). Brown is contributing 26.9 points per game on 35.8 minutes, while Smart leads the team in assists (7.2) and steals (1.3), while putting up 11.1 points on 32.5 minutes per game.
Boston also got some good news in mid-December as Robert Williams III returned to the team. Williams has played 16 games for the club, averaging 22.3 minutes per game while mostly coming off the bench.
The Celtics will be without Smart for a bit. He has an injured ankle and last played on January 21.
The Celtics are the second–highest-scoring home team in the NBA this season, with an average of 121.9 points per game. As for the team’s defensive game at TD Garden, Boston is in the middle of the league at 112.6.
Our pick
Tonight marks the second meeting of the 2023 NBA season for the Knicks and Celtics. The first time these teams played was on November 5 at Madison Square Garden. The Celtics won that game 133-118. Boston has not lost at home in 2023. In fact, one would need to go back to December 21, 2022, to find the last game the Celtics lost at TD Garden. The Knicks are playing well, but the best bet in tonight’s NBA on TNT game is to pick the Celtics to win.
Pick: Boston Celtics to beat New York Knicks
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