New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Game 1. Prediction, Betting Tips and Odds 05.05.2025

Event Details

• Date and Time: Monday, May 5, 2025, 5:00 PM EST
• Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
• Competition: NBA Playoff Game

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Preview

New York Knicks Team News

After putting away the weak Detroit Pistons in a 4-2 series, the Knicks now find themselves face-to-face with a real title contender. The duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns has been decently successful so far in the playoffs, but against a team with elite outside scoring, they may struggle down the stretch. Moreover, it took Brunson averaging over 30 points a night to finish out that first round; not a good look.

we stay working 🔒 pic.twitter.com/yFryXK7lwB

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 3, 2025

Outside of Brunson, they have had a decent number of scorers, with 5 guys averaging double digits, but no real second option to take the heat off of him when it really comes down to it. Towns has been decent along with OG Anunoby, but they really haven’t been deadly scoring options by any means.

That being said, the Knicks are strong defensively, with Kat locking it up inside while Brunson, Anunoby and Josh Hart hound the guards. Anunoby, in particular, has been great at getting into the lane, with 2.5 steals a night in the first round.

The Knicks will need a ton out of Brunson, KAT, and Anunoby if they really want to win, but it’s not impossible by any means. And if the bench can step up in any meaningful way, it could go a long way towards grabbing the dub.

Boston Celtics Team News

After dropping just one game against the Orlando Magic in the first round, the Celtics will be looking to continue the domination against the Knicks. Unlike the Knicks, the Celtics seem to have a real killer instinct, which can be seen in their 120 – 86 masterclass they put on against the Magic in game 5.

Jayson Tatum has continued to be the beating heart of this Celtics roster, with his stellar 31.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists a night, creating space for the other Celtics to create plays. Jaylen Brown and, surprisingly, Derrick White have also been playing well, averaging 23 a night and 17.1, respectively. White has really stepped up in a big way.

GAME DAYYYY ☘️ pic.twitter.com/1oc9oE94bt

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 5, 2025

Moreover, they’ve shown themselves to be the defensive juggernaut we have all been expecting, with one of the best backcourt defences in the NBA and a big 7-footer clogging up the paint. Boston makes you work for every single basket; no easy buckets.

Defensively, Jrue Holiday has also been big, with much of his contribution not really showing up on the stats sheet. His energy on the court and tenacity to stick to the hip of the opposing teams’ PG in most games have been massive down the stretch.

Are you ready, Boston? ☘️ pic.twitter.com/vXdhyb4eMH

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 5, 2025

Boston should have a large advantage going into game one with how much momentum they have, so as long as they play their style of ball, they should have no issues walking away with the win. As they say, Defence wins championships, and Boston is looking like a steel wall.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Prediction

• Pick: Boston Celtics to win
• Odds: -385 (20Bet)
• Score prediction: Boston Celtics 115 – 105 New York Knicks

The Boston Celtics are likely going to come out swinging in game one, setting the pace for the rest of the series. After dominating the Magic in round one, they are really looking like one of the front-runners for the Championship, which could be quite tough for the Knicks if they don’t manage to get the offence flowing a bit better and clean up to turnovers.

Jalen Brunson has been fantastic for the Knicks, don’t get us wrong, it’s just that down the stretch, Boston’s supporting cast and stars both have more playoff experience than New York.

the most confidence in ourselves.

catch the full round 1 all-access recap 👉 https://t.co/aDtdhi5gGf pic.twitter.com/jvrkGebmSs

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 3, 2025

Nonetheless, the Knicks do have plenty of talent, with Karl-Anthony Towns likely playing a much larger role in this series compared to round one. KAT should be able to body Kristaps Porziņģis down low, which could be some easy buckets for the Knicks.

Defensively, though, Boston’s offence may prove to be too much with so much firepower. Jayson Tatum’s bag is one of the deepest in the NBA, and with shooters surrounding him, even if he gets in a pinch, he can almost always kick it out for a good shot. If you don’t double the guy, he’ll burn you, which is always going to cause an overload on one side of the floor.

We meet again 😤 pic.twitter.com/uL40r5eURR

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 4, 2025

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a route to victory for the Knicks, but Boston is a whole different beast compared to the Pistons. If they slack off for even a second on either side of the ball, the Celtics will take advantage of it to the fullest.

This is really Boston’s game to lose, as they have both the star power and bench to go deep into the playoffs, potentially even to the finals. The New York Knicks are going to have to put on a crazy performance if they want a shot at this, but crazier things have happened.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics Betting Tips 

• Pick: Jalen Brunson to score 27.5 or more
• Odds: -110

While Boston may have a much stronger offence that the Detriot Pistons, Jalen Brunson should still be quite efficient in the second round, as long as he doesnt get sucked into Boston’s tempo. He has shown flashes of scoring greatness already in the playoffs, so seeing him push past 27.5 points is a crucial game, one that really isn’t too hard to believe.

• Pick: Team to win both halves: no
• Odds: -141 (20Bet)

While we do think the heavy favorite Boston Celtics should have no problem walking away with the win in game one, winning both halves could be much tougher. The Knicks are also coming off of several solid performances, and will be looking to at the very least, make game one competitive.

New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics  Where to Watch (USA, Canada) 

• NBA League Pass,ESPN+, Fubo (USA)
• TSN,Sportsnet  (Canada)

Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.

By Kai Iliev

Updated: 05 May 2025, 20:50