NBA Playoffs 2024/25, Round 2, Game 6, Saturday, 17.05.2025, 02:00
Who will win the ESC is a question that hardly anyone in the United States is asking themselves these days. Instead, a significant portion of the population is preoccupied with the question of who will reach the NBA Finals.
And in this regard, I may be able to help you with my Knicks Celtics tip. Even without Tatum, the C’s will not only turn the series around, but will then set their sights on the title.
The series between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics has so far delivered everything you would expect from an intense playoff duel.
After five games, the Knicks lead 3-2 and are on the verge of knocking the Celtics out of the race. But Game 5 showed that Boston is not so easy to beat despite major setbacks.
With Jayson Tatum, their best player, suffering a serious Achilles tendon injury and Kristaps Porziņģis still weakened by illness, it seemed that Boston’s fate was sealed.
But instead, the Celtics showed an impressive response: in the second half, they overwhelmed New York with a run that gave the game a whole new direction.
Derrick White with 34 points and Jaylen Brown, who shone with a career-high 12 assists, led Boston to a clear 127-102 away win.
The Knicks had been the dominant team so far, but struggled against the Celtics’ aggressive defense. Jaylen Brown in particular played his role excellently, both offensively and defensively.
Brown cleverly screened Jalen Brunson, who fell well short of his potential compared to previous games and scored only 22 points.
That was one of the keys to Boston’s victory. Brunson had been the main driving force behind the Knicks’ offense so far. The fact that Brown not only defended but also provided the necessary pace with his passes ultimately made the difference.
BOS played fast and effectively, scored a lot of transition points and once again posted strong numbers from the three-point line – over the course of this series, the Celtics have outscored the Knicks by 90 points from there, a clear testament to their accuracy.
Nevertheless, the Knicks should not be written off. They have proven that they can come back from big deficits, as their late comebacks in previous games have shown.
They also lead 3-2 and have two more chances to seal the deal. The home game in New York in Game 6 is hugely important – the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden could give the Knicks another boost.
But the question is whether they can match the defensive intensity and flexibility that Boston showed in Game 5.
If you’re looking for exciting bets on the Knicks vs. Celtics matchup, be sure to check out the Betano app, where you’ll find several interesting markets with lucrative odds.
For my Knicks Celtics prediction, I have three picks in mind, all of which offer realistic odds and stable value.
Let’s start with the top scorer market: Jalen Brown is currently in impressive form and has proven several times in recent games that he can outshine even Tatum.
Betano offers odds of 1.70 for “Most points in the game – Jalen Brown” – definitely worth considering.
Let’s move on to rebounds: Karl-Anthony Towns (not Brown) dominates the boards like no other. His odds for “Most Rebounds in the Game” are 1.62 – solid if you’re betting on control under the basket.
And finally, a team under: The Knicks could struggle offensively, especially if Boston puts pressure on them early.
NYK under 108.5 points is more conservative at 1.57, but in a potentially defensive game, it’s a clever additional tip.
My tip: Boston Celtics to win with a safety handicap of +5.5 points. The visitors have more quality across the board and have fought back perfectly after their setback in Game 4.
The Celtics will carry the momentum into Game 6 to score and at least tie the series at 3-3.
Those who bet on the Celtics will get good odds on a team that is showing mental strength and class despite injury problems – that can make all the difference in playoff thrillers.
My tip: BOS win with HC +5.5
