PREMIUM
Rogers' Early Afternoon Tipoff >> SIZZLING 31-13-3 Last 7 Days!
(NBA) Boston vs. New York,
Point Spread: -1.50 | -110.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -1.50 | -110.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 17-13 and 16-13 NY Knicks open the NBA's 5-game Christmas Day 'marathon' with a 12;05 ET tip-off at Madison Square Garden. These teams met in Boston back on Nov. 11 withe the Celtics rolling over the Knicks, 115-87. The Knicks are 22-28 on Christmas and the Celtics are 12-17. In seven Christmas Day meeting s between teh two teams, the Celtics are 4-3 against the Knicks.
Boston: The Celtics are 13-9 since Isaiah Thomas (27.0 & 6.3 APG) scored 29 points in the win over New York back on Nov. 11. However, Boston had a four-game winning streak stopped in a 117-112 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Thomas scored 15 points in a span of 4:33 in the fourth quarter as the Celtics eliminated a nine-point deficit. Boston held a four-point lead with 3:37 remaining but Thomas had one basket and the Celtics were outscored 17-6 the rest of the game.Thomas' backcourt partner Bradley is the team's second-leading scorer at 17.8 PPG and its leading rebounder at 7.3 per game. Center Horford (15.7-7.0-5.0) and SF Crowder (12.9 & 5.1) have been back on the court for awhile now, getting over early-season injury issues.
NY Knicks: The Knicks are off a 106-95 home win over the Orlando Magic last Thursday, when six players scored in double figures. Anthony (22.5 & 6.0) and the 7-3 Porzingis (19.9 & 7.6) are New York's best players, with newcomers like Rose (16.8-4.0-4.7), Lee (10.0) and Noah (4.7 & 7.9) providing inconsistent levels of production. One of Porzingis' worst games this season occurred last month in Boston, when he shot 5-of-15 in a that 115-87 loss on Nov. 11. Carmelo Anthony was also ejected from that game and six technical fouls were whistled against the Knicks, who are eager for better results against their longtime rival. "It's going to be like a redemption game for us," Porzingis said. "We didn't play well (last month) and all the other stuff wasn't going our way, it was just a tough game for us. We want it. We want it especially at home. We want to redeem ourselves."
The pick: The Knicks will be primed to win here and they are 11-4 SU & ATS at home this year. However, Celtics are a money-making 12-5-1 ATS on the road and have matched up well in this series lately, have won seven of the last eight meetings and three of the past four in Madison Square Garden. Make Boston an 8* play.
Boston: The Celtics are 13-9 since Isaiah Thomas (27.0 & 6.3 APG) scored 29 points in the win over New York back on Nov. 11. However, Boston had a four-game winning streak stopped in a 117-112 home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Thomas scored 15 points in a span of 4:33 in the fourth quarter as the Celtics eliminated a nine-point deficit. Boston held a four-point lead with 3:37 remaining but Thomas had one basket and the Celtics were outscored 17-6 the rest of the game.Thomas' backcourt partner Bradley is the team's second-leading scorer at 17.8 PPG and its leading rebounder at 7.3 per game. Center Horford (15.7-7.0-5.0) and SF Crowder (12.9 & 5.1) have been back on the court for awhile now, getting over early-season injury issues.
NY Knicks: The Knicks are off a 106-95 home win over the Orlando Magic last Thursday, when six players scored in double figures. Anthony (22.5 & 6.0) and the 7-3 Porzingis (19.9 & 7.6) are New York's best players, with newcomers like Rose (16.8-4.0-4.7), Lee (10.0) and Noah (4.7 & 7.9) providing inconsistent levels of production. One of Porzingis' worst games this season occurred last month in Boston, when he shot 5-of-15 in a that 115-87 loss on Nov. 11. Carmelo Anthony was also ejected from that game and six technical fouls were whistled against the Knicks, who are eager for better results against their longtime rival. "It's going to be like a redemption game for us," Porzingis said. "We didn't play well (last month) and all the other stuff wasn't going our way, it was just a tough game for us. We want it. We want it especially at home. We want to redeem ourselves."
The pick: The Knicks will be primed to win here and they are 11-4 SU & ATS at home this year. However, Celtics are a money-making 12-5-1 ATS on the road and have matched up well in this series lately, have won seven of the last eight meetings and three of the past four in Madison Square Garden. Make Boston an 8* play.
