Boston Celtics (61-21) vs New York Knicks (51-31)
May 14, 2025 at 07:00 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Boston Celtics -4.5 — Over/Under: 207.5
The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics are set to face off in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Knicks currently lead the series 3–1 and aim to clinch their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the 1999–2000 season.
In Game 4, the Knicks secured a 121–113 victory at Madison Square Garden, with Jalen Brunson leading the team with 39 points and 12 assists. Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each contributed 23 points, while OG Anunoby added 20. The Celtics suffered a significant setback when star forward Jayson Tatum sustained a torn right Achilles tendon late in the game, sidelining him for the remainder of the season and potentially all of next year. Despite Tatum’s absence, the Celtics are 4.5-point favorites for Game 5, with an over/under set at 208.5 points.
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Jaylen Brown Over 25.5 Points
Brown is averaging 22.2 points per game, ranking 22nd in the league. His shooting efficiency included a field goal percentage of 46.3%, contributing to his role as a key scorer for the team. In the playoffs, Brown elevated his scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game over nine appearances. When Tatum has been out for the Celtics, we see Brown step up in a big way. Tatum missed game 2 in Boston’s first-round series against the Magic, and Brown scored 36 in that game. If Boston wants to keep their season alive, Brown will need to score 30+ in this game.
OG Anunoby Over 15.5 Points
Anunoby is averaging 18.0 points per game, a notable increase from his previous career averages. His shooting efficiency was impressive, with a field goal percentage of 47.6% and a three-point shooting percentage of 37.2%. Additionally, he contributed 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game, underscoring his all-around impact on the court. He’s coming off an impressive game in game 4 of this series, scoring 20 points. When you look at the games, Anunoby is a big part of this Knicks offense they tend to play significantly better. If I can pick up on this, I believe the Knicks know this too, and will continue to utilize him more on the offensive side of the ball.
Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 Assists
Brunson is averaging 7.3 assists per game, ranking 8th in the NBA and has totaled 475 assists across 65 games, all while playing an average of 35.4 minutes per game. This assist average marked a career high for Brunson and underscored his growing importance as a floor general. Brunson has logged 6+ assists in 9 of his last 10 games. He garners so much attention from defenses, which opens things up for his teammates. He’s been clearing this line with ease, and I don’t see him stopping in this one.