Celtics and Knicks Headling Early-Season Clash: Game Lines and Player Props

Friday’s primetime matchup between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks headlines tonight’s NBA slate and offers plenty of early-season intrigue for bettors. The Celtics are on the road, looking to make a statement against a Knicks team that thrives at Madison Square Garden, setting up a strong board of betting opportunities across both sides and player props.

Boston is the underdog as the team has tweaked the roster since its championship two seasons ago, but it is still being undervalued. Both teams are loaded with talent, making this a fascinating game.

With sportsbooks still calibrating their numbers in the first week of action, sharp bettors using sports betting apps can uncover hidden value through early lines and sportsbook promotions. Here are the best NBA bets today for Celtics–Knicks.

Game Lines

Boston Celtics +5.5 at New York Knicks 🏀 (-110 via BetMGM) 📈

Celtics vs Knicks – Over 229 🏀 (-110 via bet365) 📈

The Knicks are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, while the Celtics are currently retooling, but Boston is still a good team and should surprise people this season. They should have no problem keeping this game within six points, and could even win outright. Be sure to leverage BetMGM promo codes for even more value in this one.

Player Props

Anfernee Simons Over 14.5 Points 🏀 (-110 via bet365) 📈

Especially on a Celtics team that has less offensive firepower than in previous seasons, Simons is expected to shoulder a large role and 15 points is no problem for a scorer like him.

Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 Assists 🏀 (+110 via Caesars Sportsbook) 📈

The orchestrator of the Knicks' offense, an average Brunson night should lead to seven or more assists.

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 Made Threes 🏀 (-103 via BetMGM) 📈

One of the best perimeter scoring bigs we have in the league, Towns' volume from three is high enough that it's always safe to bet on him making a couple of triples.

Jaylen Brown Over 34.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists 🏀 (-123 via bet365) 📈

With Tatum out, Brown is the clear top option for Boston this season in many ways, which is why we should expect huge numbers out of him, especially in a conference rivalry game.

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Boston–New York games rarely disappoint, and tonight’s clash should set an early tone in the Eastern Conference. Both teams enter with plenty to prove, making this one of the more compelling spots of the young season.

With the lines still soft, bettors using top sports betting apps can take advantage of these edges while sportsbook promotions remain strong. Lock in the best NBA bets today before the odds move and injury reports are updated.

The early portion of any league's season is generally the most volatile, as oddsmakers attempt to set lines for both games and player props without as much data as they would have later in the season. That makes this a great time for NBA bettors to gain an edge.

Odds as of 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 23

Mandatory Photo Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images