In the National Basketball Association, a pair of Eastern Conference rivals will meet up, as the New York Knicks take on the Boston Celtics on Monday. The New York Knicks are coming off a big time win at home over the Charlotte Hornets. The Knicks scored 129 points and beat the Hornets by 22 points. New York is now 5-4 on the season, and 8th in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics come into the game fresh off back to back wins over the weekend. Boston is now 7-2 on the season, and trails just Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. The Boston Celtics are big favorites in this game. The Celtics are listed at -9, with a total at 220 for this game on Monday.
Celtics looking to Repeat Season Opener
These two teams played at Madison Square Garden on opening night, and the Celtics won the game 108-104 over the Knicks. In that game, the Celtics used 34 points from Jayson Tatum and 30 from Kristaps Porzingis. Tatum also picked up 11 rebounds in the game.
In the season, once again Tatum leads the charge. In nine games this season, Tatum is scoring 27.7 points per game, ripping down 9.2 rebounds, and dishing out 3.6 assists per game. Porzingis is in his first season with the Celtics, and is scoring just shy of 20 points per game, while making nearly 56% of his shots.
The Celtics are fourth in the National Basketball Association in points scored. Boston is picking up more than 120 per game. The Celtics are going on the road for four straight games following this one. Boston will make stops in Philadelphia, Toronto, Memphis and Charlotte before back home on November 22nd.
Knicks Look to Keep Streak
After back to back losses to the Cavaliers and Bucks to start the month of November, New York has come back and won three straight games. The Knicks beat the Clippers by 14, the Spurs by 21 and then the Hornets by 22. In those three games, New York is scoring 122 points per game.
New York has four guys scoring double digits per game. Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett are the top two scorers for the Knicks. Those two are both over 22 points per game. Julius Randle has started slow this season, but still at 16.5 points per game. Immanuel Quickley is adding 15.1 per game, in just over 24 minutes per game.
New York is starting a five game road trip. The Knicks are at the Celtics here, before visits to Atlanta, Washington, Charlotte and Minnesota.
Knicks Compete; Celtics Win
This game is going to be a ton like the first game between these two teams. Back and forth, back and forth. These two teams know how to play each other, and know how to guard each other. Look for Tatum to have a big game for the Celtics, and Brunson to compete and score a ton for the Celtics. In the end though, the New York Knicks at +9 is the bet to make. While Boston wins the game at home, the Knicks cover the spread.
