New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Prediction, Preview and Odds - 10/23/2026

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, October 23, 2026

Venue:  TD Garden, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  Prime Video

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Knicks +2.5, Celtics -2.5; Over/Under:  224.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Knicks +2.5, Celtics -2.5; Over/Under:  224.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Knicks +2.5, Celtics -2.5; Over/Under:  224.5 points

New York Knicks:  0-1 (4th place, Atlantic Division)

Boston Celtics:  0-1 (5th place, Atlantic Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Amedeus Mastrangelo is on a HOT STREAK in the NBA on a 4-0 NBA RUN for +$4,000 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

New York Knicks:  0-1 last 1

Boston Celtics:  0-1 last 1

The Knicks are entering this game with a 0-1 record overall this season and they are 0-0 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. Jalen Brunson led the team in points in that game with 21 while Karl-Anthony Towns was next on the team with 19 points. Andre Drummond and Landry Shamet each led the team in assists in that game with 4 while Andre Drummond led the team in rebounds with 14. They were 37.2% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 70.4% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 100 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 106 PPG against them. The Knicks have an ATS record of 0-1 this season and their O/U record is 0-1.

The Celtics are entering this game with a 0-1 record overall this season and they are 0-0 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Detroit Pistons. Paul George led the team in points in that game with 38 while Derrick White and Payton Pritchard each were next on the team with 17 points. Jayson Tatum led the team in assists in that game with 11 while Jordan Walsh led the team in rebounds with 6. They were 45.5% from the field, 40.5% from 3-point range, and 76.2% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 113 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 121 PPG against them. The Celtics have an ATS record of 0-1 this season and their O/U record is 1-0.

The current betting odds have the Celtics listed as a 2.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Celtics are coming off a 121-113 road loss against the Pistons in their season opener and that was a really bad blown lead by them. They were cruising in complete control at halftime and even got the lead up to 22 points at one point, but the Pistons kept fighting their way back and eventually the Celtics offense stalled by giving up a 23-0 run. Now they are coming back home for their home opener with a bad taste in their mouth from that blown lead and they are going to make it a point to not let that happen again. Meanwhile, the Knicks are coming off a 106-100 home loss to the 76ers in their season opener and the new look 76ers with LeBron James spoiled their banner night. The Knicks didn't look bad in that one and they were right in the game for most of the night, but they still didn't look like the team that won the NBA Championship last season. They still have a bit of a hangover from that incredible run they went on and they aren't going to be as motivated against an angry Boston team that needs a bounce back win after trading away Jaylen Brown in the offseason. The Celtics are going to bring their best effort for the defending champions at home after blowing that big lead in their season opener and the Knicks didn't look quite ready for the start of the season, now playing their 1st road game too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Celtics to cover the spread in this game. 

Knicks Celtics Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Friday, October 23, 2026 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Celtics 112 Knicks 108.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert basketball picks today.  And if you enjoyed this New York Knicks Boston Celtics prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NBA predictions and previews.

New York Knicks: 17-23 ATS in a road game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 13-23 ATS on the road when playing against a team with a losing record. 24-15 UNDER as a road underdog. 6-2 UNDER off a loss against a division rival. 

Boston Celtics: 19-7 ATS off a road loss. 27-12 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite. 20-8 UNDER when the line is +3 to -3. 21-15 UNDER in a home game where the total is 220 to 229.5. 18-9 UNDER when playing against a terrible team (Win Pct. <=25%).

New York Knicks:  None.

Boston Celtics:  D. Carter (PG) Out - Illness.

"I thought he played with a lot of bounce and energy in the first half, on both ends of the floor." - Mike Brown on Andre Drummond after his team’s loss against the Celtics in their game on Tuesday.

“He’s a very important piece to what we do. And so the standard is a little bit higher and the expectation is a little bit higher. So I think it just comes with time understanding that every play, you’re at the nucleus of what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor. And it’s a great compliment that I think all three of those bigs share. And some of that just comes with time.” - Joe Mazzulla on Mitchell Robinson after his team’s loss against the Pistons in their game on Tuesday. 

PG Jalen Brunson

SG Josh Hart

SF Mikal Bridges

PF OG Anunoby

C Karl-Anthony Towns

PG Derrick White

SG Paul George

SF Jayson Tatum

PF Jordan Walsh

C Mitchell Robinson

PPG: Jalen Brunson (21)

APG: Andre Drummond (4)

Reb/G: Andre Drummond (14)

PPG: Paul George (38)

APG: Jayson Tatum (11)

Reb/G: Jordan Walsh (6)

Coaches:

New York Knicks: Mike Brown (2nd season)

Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla (5th season)