Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks Prediction: Celtics won't allow a third straight defeat

Eastern Conference leaders Boston have lost twice in a row and will now take on New York at home. Can the Celtics avoid a third straight defeat?

Joe Mazzulla's team had played two previous games away in a back-to-back format and lost both times. First, Boston failed to beat Orlando for the third time this season (98-111). Then, without some key players, including Al Horford and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics lost to Miami (95-98). Boston's streak of nine straight wins was broken. However, that didn't upset the team too much. Boston remain comfortably tied for first place in the East at 35-14.

The Knicks lost 121-123 (110-110) in overtime and 105-116 to Toronto and then, after losing their starting center Mitchell Robinson to injury, dropped two more games to Atlanta (124-139) and Toronto (116-125). However, Tom Thibodeau's team could interrupt their losing streak in their last game. In Madison Square Garden, they defeated Cleveland 105-103. The Knicks are currently seventh in the East at 26-23, just one win away from the playoff spot, although it's clear that they could have trouble defending until Robinson recovers.

The score in the season series is 1-0 in favor of Boston.

In the last championship, the rivals went 2-2.

New York beat Cleveland in last game, but before that, they lost four in a row, failing, among other things, against not the strongest Toronto and Washington this season. The Knicks are unlikely to contend for a win at TD Garden, either. Boston have lost two games in a row, which is already a lot for today's Celtics. Additionally, motivated by this disappointing stretch, the Celtics should have no trouble beating the Knicks, considering the absence of one of their key players in their defensive system, Mitchell Robinson. We're betting on Boston to win a blowout game.

• W1+TO 226.5 for 2.35;
• Handicap 1 (-7.5) for 1.86;
• Total Over 226.5 for 1.91.