A pair of Atlantic Division rivals that opened the season with losses face off at TD Garden on Friday night.
My Knicks vs. Celtics prediction backs New York to cover the 2.5-point spread as a road underdog.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with Boston listed as a 2.5-point home favorite as we dish on our NBA picks for Oct. 23.
TOP PICK
Knicks vs Celtics prediction: Knicks +2.5
The New York Knicks had about as sluggish a start to their title defense as possible in their 106-100 season-opening loss to the 76ers after plenty of pre-game NBA title-related pomp and circumstance, but given the defending champions’ talent, continuity and chemistry, there’s plenty of room for a much better performance.
The Knicks are out of their distraction-laden home environment Friday, a condition that proved favorable to them at the most critical time last postseason. New York won each of its last nine road games during last year's memorable title run.
The Knicks also prevailed in both of last season's regular-season contests at TD Garden by six and 22 points, and New York went 11-8 ATS as a road underdog last season with a +5.1-point ATS +/- in that split.
COVERS INTEL: The Knicks generated the NBA’s fourth-best average scoring margin (+5.7 points) on the road last season and postseason, and New York had average margin of victory of 19.6 points in the nine-game road winning streak it closed out the postseason with.
Knicks vs Celtics combo
This combo opens with my main prediction of the Knicks collecting themselves enough to put together a much more cohesive performance than in their opener and keep any defeat to two points or less.
One of the main avenues to that prognostication proving accurate would be a productive game across the stat sheet from the heart and soul of the team, Jalen Brunson, who enjoyed plenty of success against the Boston Celtics during the regular season a year ago.
Then, Derrick White is in line for a net usage bump this season due to Jaylen Brown’s departure, and he’s had plenty of success from long range against the Knicks in recent seasons.
Knicks vs Celtics combo
- Knicks +2.5
- Jalen Brunson Over 34.5 points + rebounds + assists
- Derrick White Over 2.5 3-pointers made
Knicks vs Celtics player props
Knicks player prop: Jalen Brunson 35+ Points + Rebounds + Assists
Brunson proved amply capable of cashing this prop against the Celtics last season. The dynamic guard averaged 36.3 points + rebounds + assists across 36.0 minutes per game in four contests against Boston during the 2025-26 campaign while going 3-1 to the Over on this numbers.
Brunson also has poured in 21 or more points in each of the Knicks' last seven division games, and he’s dished out eight or more assists in the last three tilts against Boston. He also shot a solid 46.9% against Boston in last season’s four-game sample, and he averaged 35.1 points + rebounds + assists over 48 road regular-season and postseason games in 2025-26.
I’d play Brunson’s 35+ PRA prop up to 55%.
Celtics player prop: Derrick White 3+ 3-Pointers Made
White is a gifted long-range shooter who’s increasingly shown a willingness to pull up and uncork from deep, and he drained a trio of 3-pointers in the season-opening loss to the Pistons. White also connected on at least that many in three of his four regular-season meetings with the Knicks last season.
White also averaged 2.9 made 3s at TD Garden last regular-season and postseason, and he’s hit on 3 or more 3s in each of the Celtics' last seven games against the Knicks at TD Garden. He’s shot 39.8% from behind the arc against the Knicks in his career, and more than half (seven) of his 13 shot attempts against Detroit to open the season came from downtown.
I’d be willing to trade White’s 3+ 3-pointers made prop up to 55%.
- Top picks: 1-0, +0.92 units
- Combos: 1-0, +6.67 units
Knicks vs Celtics odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Knicks +2.5 | Celtics -2.5
- Over/Under: Over 223.5 | Under 223.5
- Moneyline: Knicks 45% | Celtics 56%
For the full slate of NBA matchups, check out our NBA odds board!
Knicks vs Celtics trend
The Knicks have covered the spread in eight of their last nine road games against Atlantic Division opponents. Find more NBA betting trends.
How to watch Knicks vs Celtics
| Location | TD Garden, Boston, MA |
| Date | Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 |
| Tip off | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Knicks vs Celtics latest injuries
Check out our NBA injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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