The reigning champions.
Here's a deeper look at those player props, including a scoring prop for Knicks All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns betting the OVER (-105) on May 15.
Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 20.5 Points vs. Celtics (-105 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET
It's not as though Towns' offensive contributions have been minimal, because that certainly hasn't been the case against Boston, but there have been moments where you watch him play and think that he could be producing more to alleviate some of the pressure weighing on the shoulders of his Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson. Towns is averaging a double-double of 19.6 points and 12.8 rebounds, which are fine numbers, but through 11 postseason appearances, he's taking just as many shots per game (14.8) as Mikal Bridges (14.5) and O.G. Anunoby (13.3), while Brunson is attempting 23.1 to lead all active players across the Association.
The 7-foot big man needs at least 21 points on his home floor in order to achieve a successful OVER, and he did score 21 and 23 points in Games 3 and 4, respectfully, at MSG to make that a reality twice already. Towns likely would have had that during New York's disappointing 127-102 blowout loss in Game 5 on Wednesday had he played more than 30 minutes, finishing with 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting. He hasn't produced a memorable, defining moment in the playoffs thus far, more so blending in as opposed to standing out. That could change here in Game 6 with a raucous crowd rallying behind him and Boston one more loss away from being eliminated.
Mitchell Robinson OVER 4.5 Points vs. Celtics (-125 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET
Usually I steer away from props as low as this, because oddsmakers know exactly what they're doing trying to lure in potential wagers with numbers which seem incredibly easy to topple. That tends to be the case anyway, but with Mitchell Robinson only needing five points to notch an OVER, there's enough logic and rationale behind taking the risk. The Celtics have deployed a Hack-a-Shaq strategy more often than not when Robinson is on the floor, as he's a career 52.2-percent shooter at the free-throw line with that number dropping even further to 38.6 percent this postseason.
If all he needs to score is five points, and Boston is going to force him to make freebies at the charity stripe, you have to like his chances. Robinson just converted all six of his attempts in Game 5, and went to the line a staggering 12 times in just 19 minutes during Game 3, as well. He's gone OVER this prop in three of the five games, if only by the skin of his teeth with exactly six points on two occasions, but that still counts at the end of the day.
Derrick White OVER 25.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Knicks (-125 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET
It may turn out to be a limited sample, but Game 5 was an indicator of who Boston's offense will run through now that Jayson Tatum is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery on his torn Achilles. Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard each played at least 36 minutes and took at least 16 shots, with White leading the charge with a game-high 34 points, three rebounds, and seven made 3-pointers. It was the fourth time in five games that he went OVER a combination prop of 25.5 points and rebounds, and he did so through his scoring alone.
Kristaps Porzingis is still dealing with a mystery illness, and fellow starters Jrue Holiday and Al Horford are more so known for their defense rather than the amount of points they put forth on the box score. White has dropped at least 17 points in each game against the Knicks and maxed out at 11 rebounds in the series opener on May 5, and now that he's moved up the pecking order sans Tatum, these are the numbers one should be expecting from him well into the 2025-26 season.
Kristaps Porzingis UNDER 9.5 Points vs. Knicks (-110 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET
As previously mentioned, something isn't right with Porzingis as far as his health is concerned. Head coach Joe Mazzulla said after Game 5 that his reasoning for starting Luke Kornet in the second half was because Porzingis "couldn't breathe," although he was available to play if absolutely necessary. He saw the floor for just 12 minutes in total, which was his lowest of the series. Porzingis also failed to make a single field goal for the third time, as well, and he has yet to finish a game scoring in the double digits.
Kornet held his own in a grander role, blocking a ridiculous seven shots coming off the bench while burying all five of his shots and just missing out on a double-double of 10 points and nine rebounds. Whatever is plaguing Porzingis has been doing so for a while now, so it's hard to imagine him making a miraculous recovery in time to return to form for Friday's action. He'll play and give it a go, but his numbers should continue to suffer.
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