Knicks vs. Celtics odds, score prediction, start time: 2025 NBA picks, Feb. 23 best bets by proven model

The Boston Celtics will look to continue their recent dominance over the New York Knicks when they meet in a key Atlantic Division matchup on Sunday afternoon. Boston is coming off a 124-104 win at Philadelphia on Thursday, while New York dropped a 142-105 decision at Cleveland on Friday. The Knicks (37-19), who have won 10 of 13, are 17-9 on the road this season. The Celtics (40-16), who have won four in a row and eight of nine, are 17-10 on their home floor.

Tip-off from TD Garden in Boston is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Celtics are 8.5-point favorites in the latest Knicks vs. Celtics odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 232. Before making any Celtics vs. Knicks picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the second half of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-104 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-9 (67%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.  

Now, the model has set its sights on Knicks vs. Celtics and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Celtics vs. Knicks:

• Knicks vs. Celtics spread: Boston -8.5
• Knicks vs. Celtics over/under: 232 points   
• Knicks vs. Celtics money line: New York +264, Boston -330
• NYK: The Over is 8-2 in New York’s last 10 games
• BOS: The Celtics have hit the team total Under in 41 of their last 62 games (+17.30 units)  
• Knicks vs. Celtics picks: See picks at SportsLine
• Knicks vs. Celtics streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)

Why the Celtics can cover

Small forward Jayson Tatum registered his second triple-double of the season in Thursday’s win at Philadelphia. In that game, he scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. He scored 32 points, while adding 14 rebounds and seven assists in a 116-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 12. In 53 games, all starts, he is averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 36.3 minutes.

Shooting guard Jaylen Brown is also a big part of the Celtics’ success. In 47 games, all starts, he is averaging 22.9 points, six rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 35.1 minutes. He is coming off a 20-point, six-assist and six-rebound performance in the win at Philadelphia on Thursday. He has registered five double-doubles on the year, including a 21-point, 10-rebound and six-assist effort in a 118-110 win at Philadelphia on Feb. 2. See which team to pick here.

Why the Knicks can cover

Veteran point guard Jalen Brunson has been red hot. In Friday’s loss at Cleveland, he scored 26 points, while adding four assists and four rebounds. He registered a double-double with 22 points and 12 assists with three rebounds in a 113-111 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. In 54 games, all starts, he is averaging 26 points, 7.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 35.3 minutes.

Center Karl-Anthony Towns also powers New York’s offense. In 50 games, all starts, he is averaging 24.9 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one steal in 35.1 minutes. In the overtime win over Chicago on Thursday, he poured in 32 points, while grabbing 18 rebounds and adding two assists and two steals. He scored 23 points and added seven rebounds and four assists in the loss at Cleveland on Friday. See which team to pick here.

How to make Knicks vs. Celtics picks

The model has simulated Celtics vs. Knicks 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Over the total, projecting 234 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the NBA picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Knicks vs. Celtics, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Knicks vs. Celtics spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 147-104 roll on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.