Celtics Odds: Boston Kicks Off Busy Week As Favorites Vs. Knicks

Following a 119-114 road loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday that snapped a five-game straight-up winning streak the Boston Celtics travel to New York where they take on the Knicks on Tuesday as early 2-point betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Despite the loss to Orlando, the Celtics remain on a roll that has moved them back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, posting eight straight-up wins in their past 11 outings to improve to 27-22, good for sixth place in the East, nine games back of the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers.

Boston has also won two of its last three on the road entering Tuesday night’s Celtics vs. Knicks betting matchup at Madison Square Garden, but has been streaky at best in road contests this season, posting just three SU wins in its last 11, claiming against the spread wins on just two of those occasions.

One of those recent losses came in a visit to MSG three weeks ago, dropping a 120-114 decision to the Knicks as 1-point chalk.

New York has struggled to find wins since topping the Celtics, going 3-7 SU in its past 10, including a 116-95 lopsided loss to the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Saturday, but is an impressive 11-5 ATS in its past 16 at home, including four outright wins as betting underdogs.

The Knicks have been unable to consistently assert home dominance over Boston, with the two teams splitting their last 10 meetings in New York, both SU and ATS, and are home underdogs against the Celtics for a fourth straight time according to the OddsShark NBA Database.

The Celtics’ busy week continues Wednesday with a home date against the Detroit Pistons, followed by a visit to Cleveland on Friday night, before returning home for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee against the Sacramento Kings.

Boston is 3-0 SU in its last three in the back half of games on consecutive nights, and an impressive 8-3 SU this season, but is winless in its last two against the Pistons at TD Garden, including a 99-94 loss in early January, and is 4-4 SU and 5-3 ATS in its last eight meetings overall.

The club has also failed to record a victory in its past five against the Cavaliers but rewarded bettors in three of those losses and is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 against Cleveland. The Celtics earned a 114-97 win in a visit to Sacramento earlier this season, and are undefeated in seven at home against the Kings.

Thumbnail photo via Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports Images