Basketball fans are in for a treat later tonight as we’ve served up a pair of mouth-watering NBA games that will definitely whet your sporting appetite. Kicking things off this evening is the much-anticipated clash between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. Following shortly thereafter is the showdown between the Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Line: New York Knicks (+9.5) at Boston Celtics (-9.5); total: 210.0 – view all NBA lines
The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak at home to 12 games with an emphatic 116-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. Six players scored in double-figures for the Celtics who moved to within 6.5 games of leaders Cleveland in the Eastern Conference standings.
They will look to slice that deficit even further when they face the New York Knicks later tonight. For the Celtics to accomplish that feat, they will need to continue their excellent play on the defensive end. The Celtics have surrendered an average of 92.3 points and 39.7 percent shooting in the past three of a five-game homestand that ends Friday. They held New York to just 89 points in their last encounter on February 2. The Knicks are in the midst of a horrible slump, losing 15 of their last 18 games.
The Celtics are 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five home games against the Knicks.
Writer’s Prediction
Boston eases past New York, 102-89.
Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (8:00 PM ET)
The Washington Wizards stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a nervy 104-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Bradley Beal scored 26 points for the surging Wizards who moved to within a half-game of the Detroit Pistons for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
They will look to erase that deficit altogether when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers later tonight. They will fancy their chances of doing just that as they have fared extremely well against the Cavs of late. The Wizards have won two of their last three games against the Cavs, including a 97-85 victory in their last meeting at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Wizards are 4-0 ATS in their last four games against the Cavaliers.
