Boston (1-2) at New York (2-1)
- When: May 12 2025, 7:30 PM
- Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA
- TV: ESPN
Celtics vs. Knicks – Game 4 Preview and Prediction
Spread: Boston (-6.0) | Total: 209.0
Boston Celtics Outlook
The Boston Celtics are heading into Game 4 with newfound confidence after a dominant performance in Game 3, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Despite dropping the first two games at home—where they were expected to excel—the Celtics showed no signs of panic. Instead, they came out firing in Game 3, leading by as many as 31 points and rediscovering their 3-point touch.
Boston connected on a stellar 20 of 40 from deep after going just 25 of 100 in the first two games. Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard led the barrage, each hitting five from downtown. Pritchard’s 23-point outing was a revelation, especially after averaging just 11 points over the first two games.
“Who cares what the outside world is saying,” Pritchard remarked when asked about Boston’s high volume of three-point attempts. “If you believe in your shot, you take it confidently.”
The Celtics are riding high, believing the series is far from over. Jaylen Brown echoed that sentiment, saying, “You have to beat us four times. Not once, not twice. Four times. There’s a lot of basketball left to be played.” With Game 4 back in New York, Boston is looking to keep that momentum rolling and even up the series before heading back to the Garden.
New York Knicks Outlook
The Knicks find themselves in a bit of a gut-check moment after getting dismantled in Game 3. New York never led in the contest and trailed by a staggering 25 points at halftime. Jalen Brunson tried to keep them in it with 27 points, but it was clear the team wasn’t prepared for Boston’s surge.
“I don’t think we came with the right mindset,” Brunson said postgame. “Maybe subconsciously we were satisfied being up 2-0. That’s not the mentality you need to win games.”
New York knows the importance of Game 4. A loss would undo all the hard work they did by stealing two games in Boston. Tom Thibodeau stressed that his team must be ready for Boston’s aggression. “You have to earn your wins,” Thibodeau said. “We need to play a strong 48 minutes of basketball.”
Josh Hart emphasized the need to stay composed. “We knew it was gonna be a tough series,” Hart said. “We don’t get too high when we win, and we don’t get too low when we lose. We always try to stay even.”
Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3 but did suffer a hand injury. Fortunately for the Knicks, he isn’t listed on the injury report.
Game 4 Prediction and Picks:
Boston found its shooting stroke in Game 3, and that spells trouble for the Knicks. With momentum and their 3-point shooting back on track, the Celtics are primed to even the series.
Final Score Prediction: Boston 112, New York 103
Best Bets: Boston -6.0
Total: Over 209.0. The Celtics’ firepower combined with New York’s desperation should see this game go above the total.
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
