Knicks vs. Celtics player props feature MVP candidate Jayson Tatum. He’s tasked with putting Boston back in the win column after two consecutive defeats. Knicks-Celtics is one of Thursday night’s two national TV spots.
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Knicks vs. Celtics Odds, Totals, Best Player Props
Note: Odds for tonight’s best NBA player props will fluctuate between publish and tip-off. Check the top NBA betting sites for the most up-to-date numbers.
Knicks vs. Celtics | Tonight’s Best NBA Player Props
Jayson Tatum Over 13.5 Assists + Rebounds
Tatum is playing at an MVP level, and he’s been especially prolific across his last 10, averaging 10.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists – including three performances with 14-plus boards. He will likely absorb a little extra usage and ball-handling duty with Smart sidelined.
Boston has dropped two straight heading into tonight, and it’s a nationally televised spot against a division rival. Not only will there be some added juice for this home matchup, but it’s a spot in which Tatum can be expected to play the role of “stopper”.
Jalen Brunson Over 23.5 Points
Brunson is enjoying shot volume – his last three games notwithstanding – and providing efficiency. He’s shooting 48.4% from the field on 20.8 shots over his last 12 games. He only averaged 14 shots over his last three contests, but there are reasons to anticipate an increase.
The Knicks are 8.5-point road underdogs, suggesting they’ll spend much of the evening playing from behind. If that is the case, they will need to pick up their pace, which in theory, leads to more shot attempts. Boston’s Marcus Smart is out tonight, which also helps Brunson on paper.
Julius Randle Over 11.5 Rebounds
Simply put, Randle is rebounding like a mad man. He’s averaging 14.5 boards – including 3.3 offensive – across his last 12, and went Over in 10 of them. One element we’re paying close attention to is Boston’s league-best defensive rebounding percentage. It’s fair to wonder the degree to which Boston will clamp down on Randle’s offensive glasswork.
Even if we look exclusively at Randle’s defensive rebounding, he’s reached double figures in eight of 12 and gone over in six. Boston produces a lower effective field goal percentage when Smart is off the floor, so it’s possible Randle has access to an extra errant shot or two.
Head-to-Head, Three-Pointers | Jayson Tatum (-1.5, -150) vs. RJ Barrett
DraftKings Sportsbook offers head-to-head odds for a number of player matchups. We like Tatum to hit two more three-pointers than RJ Barrett on Thursday night.
Barrett is shooting the ball better from distance of late, converting 36% of his treys over his last eight (compared to 33.8% overall). Tatum, meanwhile, is shooting 36.6% over his last 10 and 35.3% overall. We expect considerably more three-point volume from Tatum though.
The Celtics and Knicks both defend the three effectively, but in different ways. The Knicks allow a high volume of threes but limit the opposition’s efficiency. The Celtics’ are a tick above average at limiting efficiency, but their strength is suppressing volume.
Offensively, the Celtics and Knicks both rank top 10 in three-pointers attempted, but Boston attempts 6.9 more per game than the Knicks. We like Tatum to outshine Barrett from deep in tonight’s spot.
