The New York Knicks will make an unexpected stop at the TD Garden in Boston tonight as their opening round series with the Celtics goes to a sixth game. This evening Game 6 battle is scheduled to tip off at 7:00pm ET on ESPN. The latest 2013 NBA Playoff Picks have the visiting Knicks, the two seed in the Eastern Conference, listed as a -2 against the spread favorite; the Over/Under is set at 181.5 points. The Celtics are drawing +110 moneyline odds ($100 wins $110) to force a Game 7 finale at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

 

New York looked well on its way to a sweep after taking an easy 3-0 series lead over Boston (won the first three games by an average of 12.3 points per game); however, those thoughts/hopes/dreams are long gone with the series now on the brink of a seventh game.

 

The Celtics mustered up some serious heart on Sunday by avoiding elimination with a 97-90 overtime victory and they did the same Wednesday night, knocking off the Knicks 92-86 in New York.

 

Boston, playing as a nine point road dog, only played seven players in Game 5, but each of those guys, with the exception of Avery Bradley, made a solid contribution. Jeff Green led the team with 18 points, but Jason Terry and Brandon Bass each had 17 while Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett tallied 16 apiece. Garnett also added 18 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.

 

Defensively the Celtics held the Knicks to 39.5 percent field goal shooting, and they were particularly troublesome to Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, who combined to go 11-for-38 from the field.

 

With the series returning to Bean Town, the odds makers are giving the Celtics a better shot this evening, but they are still getting points at home. It seems inevitable that New York will win the series given how well it played in the first three games, but at this juncture that cannot be taken for granted.

 

Notable Trends: The Celtics are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games as a home dog with a total between 180 and 185 points. The Knicks are 2-8 both straight up and against the spread in their last 10 games as a road favorite with a total between 180 and 185 points.

 

 

New York Knicks -2 (-110), Over 181.5 (-110), -130 (Moneyline)

 

Boston Celtics +2 (-110), Under 181.5 (-110), +110 (Moneyline)

 

Join us as Johnny Detroit walks you through the betting totals in basketball with "totals expert" Greg Shaker!