The reigning champions of the 2023-2024 NBA season are raising their banner in Boston tonight, as the Celtics face the New York Knicks for a fantastic opening night matchup. Let’s dive right into our Same Game Parlay (SGP).
Tuesday’s Best NBA Same Game Parlay Bets: Knicks vs. Celtics
(Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook)
- Leg 1: New York Knicks Over 108.5 Points (-108)
- Leg 2: Jalen Brunson Over 28.5 Points (-108)
- Leg 3: Payton Pritchard Over 11.5 Points + Assists (-122)
While hoisting the championship banner solidifies the Celtics being the best team last season, history suggests this doesn’t always bold well for the team in their opening contest.
Teams who raise the banner on opening night at home are 10-14 against the spread, and Boston is going into this contest without a major starting option. Kristaps Porzingis will be out for the foreseeable future while recovering from surgery.
This should open up the paint for more scoring opportunities for the New York Knicks, as the size and length of Porzingis creates problems for the opposition when at the basket and from beyond the perimeter.
The Knicks averaged 112.8 points last season. With the acquisitions of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, that average can increase this season. Even though it’s the first game for this version of the New York Knicks, they should be able to clear 108.5 points tonight.
Leading the Knicks squad tonight is their most established scoring option in Jalen Brunson. New York will have to rely heavily on their star guard. There’s every reason to believe he will be up to the task.
Brunson averaged the fourth-highest amount of points last season with 28.7 per game. Those numbers increased to 29.5 on the road. Boston was one of the worst pick-and-roll defenses in the league last season, so expect Brunson to be heavily featured in exploiting that inefficiency.
Payton Pritchard averaged a career-high in minutes and points last season, showing he has earned the trust of head coach Joe Mazzulla, becoming a reliable backup option off the bench. If Pritchard can continue to make the most of his minutes, there’s a chance he see an even more inclusive role this season.
The Boston guard averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 assists in 22.3 minutes of playing time last season. Considering this is the first game back for the Celtics, they may limit playing time for the starting lineup. This would leave Pritchard in a position for a few extra minutes tonight.
Parlay Odds: +574
