The 2024-25 NBA season begins on Tuesday with a doubleheader and the first game will feature the world-champion Boston Celtics hosting the New York Knicks after their banner ceremony. The Celtics went 64-18 and won their 18th NBA championship while the Knicks went 50-32 and then lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Pacers in seven games. 

Tipoff from TD Garden in Boston is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The SportsLine consensus lists Boston as the 5.5-point favorite in the latest Celtics vs. Knicks odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 224 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our NBA odds page). 

Before you make any Celtics vs. Knicks picks, you NEED to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model ended the 2023-24 season on a sizzling 94-61 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning more than $2,800. Anyone following has seen HUGE returns!

The model knows Boston forward Jayson Tatum will be looking to further prove himself after what should have been a celebratory summer turned somewhat sour when he was backburnered on the Olympic team. Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while winning his first championship. 

The model also knows New York is hoping it opened up a sizable championship window by trading Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo (among other assets) in a three-team trade for Karl-Anthony Towns. Now Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges will all join forces on the new-look Knicks. 

The model has simulated Knicks vs. Celtics 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations!

Who wins Celtics vs. Knicks, and which side of the spread hits in nearly 70% of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the spread you should be all over, all from the model on a 94-61 roll on top-rated NBA picks!