*These NBA tips and player prop picks are done the previous game day. Adjust selections should spreads and lineups change.
BOSTON CELTICS @ NEW YORK KNICKS
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
East Semifinals – Game 3 (New York leads series 2-0)
Team & Totals Trends:
- Celtics have won their last 12 road games following a loss
- Last 4 playoff meetings between Celtics and Knicks at MSG have gone under
- Home team has won the 1st half in last 6 Eastern Semifinals games between these sides
- Road team has covered in each of the Knicks’ last 5 games
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| BOS | 61 | 21 | 28-13 | 33-8 |
| NY | 51 | 31 | 27-14 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| BOS | 116.3 | 107.2 | +9.1 | 223.5 |
| NY | 115.8 | 111.7 | +4.1 | 227.5 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Oct 23, 2024 | NYK 109 @ BOS 132 |
| Feb 9, 2025 | BOS 131 @ NYK 104 |
| Feb 24, 2025 | NYK 105 @ BOS 118 |
| Apr 9, 2025 | BOS 119 @ NYK 117 (OT) |
| GAME 1 | NYK 108 @ BOS 105 (OT) |
| GAME 2 | NYK 91 @ BOS 90 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| BOS | OVER | |
| -5.5 | 204.5 |
Player Trends:
- Mikal Bridges has hit 2+ threes in 6 straight playoff games vs. Atlantic teams
- Jrue Holiday has made 2+ threes in 6 straight road games vs. winning Knicks teams
- Josh Hart has 5+ assists in 10 straight home games
- Jrue Holiday has 7+ assists in 5 of last 6 playoff road games vs. Atlantic opponents
- Jalen Brunson has 6+ assists in 18 of his last 19 home games vs. Atlantic teams
- Derrick White has 6+ assists in 7 of last 8 road games
- Derrick White has scored 16+ points in 7 of last 8 games
- Josh Hart has scored 18+ in last 3 playoff home games vs. Atlantic teams
- Jaylen Brown has scored 20+ in 15 of last 16 playoff games vs. Atlantic teams
- Mikal Bridges has scored 15+ in 24 of last 27 as a home dog vs. East
- Brunson has scored 34+ in 5 of last 6 as home dog vs. East
- Tatum has scored 36+ in 3 of last 4 playoff road games vs. East
- Towns has scored 26+ in 5 of last 6 home games vs. Atlantic teams
- White has 8+ rebounds in last 5 games vs. winning teams
- Jrue Holiday has 6+ rebounds in last 5 playoff road games vs. East
- Brown has 6+ rebounds in 6 straight
- Horford has 8+ rebounds in last 4 road games vs. winning teams
- Anunoby has 4+ rebounds in last 10 home games
- Bridges has 6+ rebounds in 5 of last 6
- Hart has 10+ rebounds in 4 of last 5 games as underdog
- Tatum has 14+ rebounds in 3 of last 4
- Towns has 14+ rebounds in 3 of Knicks’ last 4 games vs. Celtics
[/su_spoiler]
The Knicks return to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of their Eastern Semi-final series against the Celtics, holding a 2-0 lead.
The Knicks stunned Boston again in Game 2, edging out a 91-90 win after erasing a second straight 20-point second-half deficit.
New York’s efficiency inside the arc proved pivotal, shooting 50.9% (28-of-55) on two-point attempts, while Boston managed just 44.4% (24-of-54). The Knicks also continued to clamp down defensively, limiting the Celtics to 10-of-40 (25.0%) from beyond the arc.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with a dominant 21-point, 17-rebound double-double, pushing New York to an 8-1 record in their last nine games when he grabs 15 or more boards. Boston enters Game 3 facing pressure and injury concerns, with Sam Hauser listed as doubtful.
PICK – OVER 204.5 TOTAL POINTS
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
West Semifinals – Game 3 (Series tied 1-1)
Team & Totals Trends:
- Warriors have covered in 6 of their last 7 playoff games as home underdogs
- Warriors have won 8 of their last 9 home games without Curry
- Timberwolves’ last 4 playoff road games have gone under
- Underdogs have won the 1st half in 4 of the last 5 meetings
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| MIN | 49 | 33 | 25-16 | 24-17 |
| GS | 48 | 34 | 24-17 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| MIN | 114.3 | 109.3 | +5.0 | 223.6 |
| GS | 113.8 | 110.5 | +3.3 | 224.3 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Dec 7, 2024 | MIN 107 @ GSW 90 |
| Dec 9, 2024 | MIN 106 @ GSW 114 |
| Dec 22, 2024 | GSW 113 @ MIN 103 |
| Jan 16, 2025 | GSW 116 @ MIN 115 |
| GAME 1 | GSW 99 @ MIN 88 |
| GAME 2 | GSW 93 @ MIN 117 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| MIN | OVER | |
| -5.5 | 201.5 |
Minnesota and Golden State face off in Game 3 of their Western Semi-final series at Chase Center, with the series tied 1-1.
Minnesota bounced back in Game 2 with a dominant 117-93 win at Target Center, snapping a four-game losing streak against the Warriors.
Defense set the tone for the Timberwolves, as they forced 20 turnovers and held Golden State to just 28.1% shooting from three (9-of-32). The absence of Stephen Curry (out) was clearly felt by the Warriors. Julius Randle led Minnesota with a 24-point, 11-assist double-double—his season high in assists—while Anthony Edwards added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals despite rolling his ankle in the second quarter.
Minnesota has now won 17 of their last 18 games when Randle scores 20 or more, and will look to carry that momentum into San Francisco as the series shifts to the Warriors’ home floor.
PICK – MINNESOTA -5.5
