The New York Knicks finished above the Boston Celtics in the NBA standings last season, much to the surprise of most basketball fans. This year, both teams come in with high expectations in the Eastern Conference, as they look to join the Nets and Bucks among the conference’s elite teams. In our NBA predictions during the opening week of the 2021-2022 season, we look at Celtics vs Knicks and pick out the best bet for this Atlantic Division matchup.

Celtics vs Knicks FanDuel Promo Code

New bettors at FanDuel Sportsbook can wager on either team to win this Celtics vs Knicks game, with a $2 bet paying out $150 if that team wins.

The second night of the NBA season gives bettors an opportunity to take advantage of the FanDuel Sportsbook NBA promo for the opening nights of the season. Here, bettors can wager $2 on either team to win this Celtics vs Knicks contest. If that bet wins, bettors receive $150, for a 75/1 payout.

Celtics vs Knicks Betting Pick

This game will be played at 7:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

Why Bet The Knicks:

The Knicks were one of the best teams in the NBA at covering the spread at home last season. They covered the number 61.5% of the time in the 2020-2021 season, even after failing to do so in two of their three playoff games against the Atlanta Hawks. Expect that trend to continue here.

New York really improved its roster this offseason, bringing in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to bolster their scoring punch. There could be some growing pains for the Knicks, but they should take care of business against the Celtics in this matchup with Walker and Fournier looking to dish out some punishment against their old team.

The status of Jaylen Brown could greatly impact the outcome of this game, as he is questionable due to COVID-19 protocols. Without Brown, the Celtics would have to rely so heavily on Jayson Tatum, which would not bode well for them as they look to start the season with a win in a hostile environment.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics enter this season led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown once again, but their roster will look somewhat different behind them. Boston brought in Dennis Schroder this offseason along with Josh Richardson, while Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier bolted to join the Knicks. Here, the Celtics will need a lot from Tatum to beat a well-rounded Knicks squad.

Just how much is needed from Tatum will depend on the health situation of Jaylen Brown. If Brown is able to play, the Knicks could have trouble defending both of Boston’s stars, who are tall enough to make a difference at the basket while also being able to shoot from the perimeter. But if Tatum is forced to carry the scoring load i this game, things could fall apart in a hurry for Boston in game one of this season.

New York Knicks

For the New York Knicks, the question coming into this season will be how they handle the weight of expectations. The team was not expected to fare well last season, but earned the fourth seed in the East. This year, they will not be able to sneak up on anyone, as opponents will know going in that Tom Thibodeau’s team is a tough out from start to finish.

In this particular game, the major goal outside of winning the game will be getting Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier integrated into the offense and defense. Julius Randle will still be the Knicks’ go-to player when they need a bucket, but Walker’s ability to score in a number of ways and do so in the clutch will take some of the pressure off of last year’s Most Improved Player.

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