Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/09/2026

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Thursday, April 9, 2026

Venue:  Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Celtics +3.5, Knicks -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Celtics +3.5, Knicks -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Celtics +3.5, Knicks -3.5; Over/Under:  217.5 points

Boston Celtics:  54-25 (1st place, Atlantic Division)

New York Knicks:  51-28 (2nd place, Atlantic Division)

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Boston Celtics:  8-2 last 10

New York Knicks:  7-3 last 10

The Celtics are entering this game with a 54-25 record overall this season and they are 26-14 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 4 game winning streak with wins coming against the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Toronto Raptors, and the Charlotte Hornets. Jaylen Brown led the team in points in that game with 35 while Jayson Tatum was next on the team with 23 points. Jayson Tatum led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Jaylen Brown led the team in rebounds with 9. They were 49.4% from the field, 40.5% from 3-point range, and 83.3% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 114.6 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 106.9 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 47-32 this season and their O/U record is 28-51.

The Knicks are entering this game with a 51-28 record overall this season and they are 28-9 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls, and the Atlanta Hawks. Jalen Brunson led the team in points in that game with 30 while OG Anunoby was next on the team with 22 points. Jalen Brunson led the team in assists in that game with 13 while Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson each led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 50% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 76.5% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.8 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 110.4 PPG against them. The Knicks have an ATS record of 41-39 this season and their O/U record is 37-43.

The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as a 3.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Celtics have looked great in their games this season with their 54-25 record overall which has them right near the top of the East with one of the best records in the entire NBA. They have been a great road team too with their 26-14 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Knicks have looked great in their games this season with their 51-28 record overall which has them right near the top of the East. They have looked great on their home court too with their 28-9 home record this season. The Knicks have looked great in their games lately, going 7-3 in their last 10 games and they have a lot of momentum on their side with 3 wins in a row now. They have also been beating up on a lot of bad teams lately though and they still have the pressure of the Cavaliers being right on their tail. The Celtics have also been rolling lately and they have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the last 2 months. They have been surging up the standings, now in 2nd place in the East, and they are still looking to lock that up. The Celtics have also been the hotter team lately as they are 8-2 in their last 10 games and they have won 4 games in a row now, crushing some good opponents during that time. They are going to bring their best effort on the road for a team like the Knicks, especially when they can still hurt the Knicks with seeding, knocking them down 4th. The Knicks have been beating up on bad opponents lately, but they have had trouble against better ones and the Celtics will be looking to show the Knicks why the East still runs through Boston. The best way to place a bet here is on the Celtics to cover the spread in this game. 

Celtics Knicks Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Thursday, April 9, 2026 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Celtics 120 Knicks 114.

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Boston Celtics: Will be posted by 12:00pm ET, 04/09/2026.

New York Knicks: Will be posted by 12:00pm ET, 04/09/2026.

Boston Celtics:  None. 

New York Knicks:  None.

“His pick-and-roll defense was great in the second half, and I just thought he was more physical in the paint, offensively. He got some tip-outs, offensive rebounds for us, scoring in the paint versus the switch. And then like I said, he’s got to get his legs underneath him. But I thought that fourth quarter run there, his pick-and-roll defense was good. He got a deflection steal. So he just felt more comfortable out there in playmaking, which comes with time with that. So we just need him to continue to get his legs underneath him, but get comfortable in those playmaking situations on both ends of the floor. And he kind of showed that in the second half.” - Joe Mazzulla on Vucevic after his team’s win against the Hornets in their game on Tuesday. 

“Good win by our guys. Gutsy win. We went down a couple of times. Double digits. And our guys just kind of stayed with it, stayed with it, stayed with it. Nobody panicked.” - Mike Brown after his team’s win against the Hawks in their game on Monday. 

PG Derrick White 

SG Jaylen Brown 

SF Sam Hauser

PF Jayson Tatum

C Neemias Queta

PG Jalen Brunson

SG Josh Hart

SF Mikal Bridges

PF OG Anunoby

C Karl-Anthony Towns

PPG: Jaylen Brown (28.7)

APG: Derrick White (5.5)

Reb/G: Jayson Tatum (10.1)

PPG: Jalen Brunson (26)

APG: Jalen Brunson (6.8)

Reb/G: Karl-Anthony Towns (11.9)

Coaches:

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (4th season)

New York Knicks: Mike Brown (1st season)