New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics Game 6 (NYK Leads 3-2) - Best Bets & Betting Odds
All odds provided by Sports Interaction.
Knicks vs. Celtics Player Prop Best Bets
With Kristaps Porzingis unable to contribute, Luke Kornet came in and nearly had a triple double the hard way in Game 5. A bet on Kornet in Game 6 on Friday night hinges a lot on how Porzingis will be feeling. So far in this series, the big Latvian has really been struggling with an illness. Head coach Joe Mazulla said he was having trouble breathing during Game 5, hence Kornet’s high usage. He hasn’t played more than 24 minutes so far in this series.
With that in mind, we’re gambling on him either sitting for Game 6 or once again ceding the lion’s share of his minutes to Kornet, who proved his worth and then some in Game 5. Even if Porzingis does play, Kornet should see more minutes than usual. Sportsbooks aren’t sure yet, which is why we need to snap up these Kornet props before they skyrocket.
Right now he’s at just 8.5 points and 6.5 rebounds (both of which we like, though if we had to choose, the rebounds are the safer pick), both marks he will blow by if he plays 25+ minutes again. He has averaged 8.1 boards in the last 15 where he’s played 25+ minutes. We like him to see a lot of the floor, and with that, the numbers will come: he had 7+ rebounds in 12 of those 15 games.
On the other side, OG Anunoby is coming off an ugly 1-for-12 night that you don’t see very often. We like him to bounce back big time. He’s had a few duds in these playoffs already, offensively speaking, and he always rebounds.
In Game 2 against Detroit, he had just 10 points, then in Game 3 he had 22 on 17 shots. In Game 4 he was 3-for-13, but in Game 5 he was 8-for-13. In Games 2 and 3 against Boston, he was a combined 3-for-15, but in Game 4, he was 8-for-14.
Not to mention his scoring average jumps from 17.4 on the road to 18.6 at home, as does his field goal percentage (44 to 51) and true shooting percentage (57 to 61). The juice isn’t ideal, but Anunoby has performed at MSG in these playoffs, posting 19+ in three of five games at the Mecca.
Best Bets
- Luke Kornet Over 8.5 Points (+105)
- Luke Kornet Over 6.5 Rebounds (-120)
- OG Anunoby Over 14.5 Points (-120)
Knicks vs. Celtics Moneyline Prediction
Without Jayson Tatum, it seemed the Knicks were taking it a bit easy. Jaylen Brown and company showed why they are now 10-2 without Tatum this year. However, the insertion of Luke Kornet was surely a surprise for New York, one which had a huge impact, especially on Boston’s defensive end. But it’s also one that will be accounted for by Tom Thibodeau and his staff ahead of Game 6.
It’s also important to mention that the Knicks were unable to engineer another comeback because Jalen Brunson fouled out with eight minutes left. They were already down 20, but that hasn’t stopped them before.
The age-old maxim that role players play better at home will also hold the Knicks in good stead. There’s no way OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges will go a combined 5-for-27 from the field again. Both have averaged far more points at home than on the road this year.
Lastly, that pressure that we spoke of might actually be fuel for these Knicks. They’ve shown that they love to play in the clutch and that they can rise to the occasion. This is the biggest of occasions, and with the knowledge that Tatum is done for the year in the back of Boston’s mind and their “win for pride” in Game 5 already out of the way, New York should take this one.
Best Bet: New York Knicks Moneyline (-140)/Sports Interaction
