Who is the real team to beat in the Eastern Conference?
Analyzing whether the Celtics or Cavaliers are better built to advance to the NBA finals.
The No. 2-seeded Boston Celtics will face the No. 3-seeded New York Knicks in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Boston advanced with a 4-1 series win over Orlando, while New York advanced with a 4-2 win over Detroit. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be at an undetermined time on Monday, May 5, in Boston.
Here’s a look at how the second-round matchup is projected to play out:
First-round picks: Thunder vs Grizzlies | Nuggets vs Clippers | Lakers vs Timberwolves | Rockets vs Warriors | Cavaliers vs Heat | Pacers vs Bucks
Second-round picks: Cavaliers vs Pacers
Celtics vs Knicks series prediction, picks
Justin Martinez: Boston, 4-1
On paper, New York has the tools to threaten Boston. It has plenty of wing defenders to throw at Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and it has an elite closer in Jalen Brunson. But that didn’t translate in the regular season, where the Celtics swept the four-game series. Boston’s perimeter-centric offense will be a handful for New York, which ranks 26th in the NBA in opponent 3-point percentage (36.7%). Rim protectors such as Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will also disrupt the Knicks, who do most of their damage from inside the arc. Give me Boston in five.
BetMGM: Celtics (-800) are the favorite to win the second-round NBA playoff series vs Knicks
Boston opened as a -800 favorite to beat New York in the second round of the playoffs.
Series winner: Boston -800 | New York +550Win in 4: Boston +325 | New York +4000Win in 5: Boston +200 | New York +3500Win in 6: Boston +400 | New York +1400Win in 7: Boston +400 | New York +1100
Celtics vs. Knicks Game 1 betting odds
Odds via BetMGM as of Thursday, May 1
Odds: Boston by 8.5Over/under: 214.5Moneyline: Boston -375 | New York +300
All times are Central Time (CT)
Game 1: New York at Boston, TBD Monday, May 5 (TBD)Game 2: New York at Boston, TBD Wednesday, May 7 (TBD)Game 3: Boston at New York, TBD Saturday, May 10 (TBD)Game 4: Boston at New York, TBD Monday, May 12 (TBD)Game 5 (If necessary): New York at Boston, TBD Wednesday, May 14 (TBD)Game 6 (If necessary): Boston at New York, TBD, Friday, May 16 (TBD)Game 7 (If necessary): New York at Boston, TBD Monday, May 19 (TBD)
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