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The New York Knicks welcome the Boston Celtics to Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The Knicks and Celtics face off in a nationally televised matchup, with the Celtics entering on the second night of a back-to-back. Boston will be without Payton Pritchard (protocols), with Kemba Walker (knee) and Derrick Rose (ankle) ruled out for the Knicks. New York is 18-20 overall and 8-11 at home.

The Celtics are listed as two-point favorites per Caesars Sportsbook, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the Over-Under, is 208.5 in the latest odds. Before you make any NBA predictions with the Celtics vs. Knicks match-up, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model. 

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 12 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 50-27 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning almost $2,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

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

  • Celtics vs. Knicks spread: Celtics -2
  • Celtics vs. Knicks over-under: 208.5 points 
  • Celtics vs. Knicks money line: Celtics -130, Knicks +110
  • BOS: The Celtics are 4-2-1 against the spread with no rest 
  • NYK: The Knicks are 7-12 against the spread in home games

Why the Celtics can cover

Boston's defense is excelling and New York's offense is struggling in certain categories. The Celtics rank in the top eight of the NBA in defensive rating, allowing about 1.07 points per possession for the season. Boston ranks near the top of the league in field-goal percentage allowed, 2-point shooting allowed and assists allowed, with above-average marks in turnover creation, blocked shots and points allowed in the paint. Opponents struggle to create second-chance opportunities against the Celtics, and Boston is both versatile and talented on the defensive end. 

The Knicks rank second-worst in the NBA in producing assists, illustrating a lack of playmaking and ball movement. New York is also No. 27 in 2-point accuracy and No. 25 in field-goal percentage, and Boston's defense has an advantageous matchup. On offense, the Celtics should benefit from New York's lack of turnover creation, and Boston currently ranks in the elite tier in free-throw attempts and free-throw accuracy.

Why the Knicks can cover

New York's defensive projection in this matchup should benefit from Boston's offensive shortcomings. The Celtics are in the bottom 10 of the NBA in field goal percentage and three-point percentage, with Boston also landing near the bottom of the league in assists on the offensive end. The Knicks are allowing 43.8 percent shooting to opponents, a top-three figure in the NBA, and New York is giving up 50.6 percent shooting on two-point attempts to opponents. 

New York ranks in the top 10 in free throw attempts allowed (20.5 per game) and blocked shots (5.2 per game), with opponents producing only 12.2 second-chance points per game. Opponents are scoring only 42.1 points in the paint per game, an excellent figure, and Tom Thibodeau's teams have a long-term track record for protecting the rim in an effective manner.

How to make Celtics vs. Knicks picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the point total, with 11 players projected to score in double figures. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model's Knicks vs. Celtics pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Celtics vs. Knicks? And which side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Celtics vs. Knicks spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.