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- What: NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs Game 6
- When: May 16, 2025
- Who: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
- Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
- Where: Madison Square Garden (Manhattan, NY)
The Eastern Conference Semifinals are heating up as we head into Friday. A potential closeout game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks is featured.
Currently, the series is 3-2 in favor of New York, although it’s important to highlight that Boston swept the regular-season series 4-0.
In this preview, I’ll analyze each team’s recent performances and share our prediction and best bets for the Celtics vs. Knicks matchup. The game will tip off at 8:00 ET at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Boston Celtics will be missing superstar Jayson Tatum for the remainder of the playoffs after he tore his Achilles in Game 4. The loss, which resulted in a 121-113 loss, put the team down 1-3 in the series.
Nevertheless, the Celtics rallied at home on Wednesday, securing a decisive 127-102 victory over the Knicks. With the series now at 2-3, Boston’s odds of advancing to the next round have improved to +225.
However, they remain a longshot to win the championship and repeat as titleholders. Boston’s other win in this series occurred in Game 3, where they triumphed 115-93 on the road.
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Game Preview (Celtics vs. Knicks)
Derrick White was the standout performer in the critical game five at home, scoring an impressive 34 points while shooting 7-for-13 from three-point range (53.8%).
| Spread |  |  |  |
| Boston Celtics +2.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| New York Knicks -2.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Jaylen Brown contributed significantly with a double-double, tallying 26 points and leading the team with 12 assists. As 5.5-point favorites, the Celtics easily covered the spread with a commanding 25-point victory.
Just a couple of days ago, the New York Knicks held a 3-1 series advantage, giving them three opportunities to eliminate the reigning champions.
After their first attempt in game five ended in a loss (127-102), they’ll head back home to try to secure a win in front of their fans.
back-to-back 3️⃣s for 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/fFRiLYPmic
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 15, 2025
The Knicks have already claimed victories in games one (108-105 OT), two (91-90), and four (121-113). They remain a strong –275 favorite to progress to the next round and are currently listed at +600 to clinch their first championship since 1973.
Based on game five from New York’s viewpoint, Josh Hart scored 24 points. Although Mitchell Robinson managed only eight points, he was a force on the boards, grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
Across the board, the Celtics outperformed the Knicks in key stats, including field goal percentage (52.4% to 35.8%), three-point shooting (44.9% to 40.0%), turnovers (9 to 11), and total rebounds (44 to 40).
The upcoming game is much closer to a toss-up, which makes taking the 2.5 points with the Celtics on the road a valuable proposition.
While I won’t be shocked if either team emerges victorious, I expect Boston to keep the game competitive and put up a strong fight.
Take the Celtics to cover the 2.5 point spread in this one.
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Total Points
It may sound a bit unconventional, but could the Celtics function better without Jayson Tatum if they continue to rely heavily on three-point shooting?
| Total Points | | | |
| Over 210 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 210 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
With Payton Pritchard, who boasts a 40.7% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, stepping in, they might gain an advantage over Tatum’s 34.3% from three.
They’ll certainly miss Tatum’s rebounding, but if they can limit Mitchell Robinson’s effectiveness on the offensive boards, I believe the Celtics can hold their ground in this matchup.
One more reason I favor Boston and believe the total score will be low is New York’s inconsistency in offense.
Among the eight teams that reached the second round, the Knicks rank seventh in offensive efficiency, managing just 109.4 points per 100 possessions.
All heart, all hustle 💪 pic.twitter.com/uoeQXrow2K
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 16, 2025
They’ll be up against a Celtics defense that was among the best in the league. The team finished the regular season in the top five.
During the postseason, it also excelled, ranking second in defensive efficiency by allowing only 106.4 points per 100 possessions.
Additionally, both teams were among the slowest in the league during the regular season. Boston ranked last in pace with just 98.3 possessions per game, while New York came in at 26th with 99.3.
I anticipate that the game will slow down significantly in the second half, which should contribute to keeping the final score under the total.
Under 210 points is the play in this one.
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