The No. 3 seed New York Knicks will aim to establish a commanding 3-0 lead against the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics during Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoff series this Saturday. After both games, New York managed to impressively come back from 20-point deficits, with Mikal Bridges sealing both victories with late-game steals.

The match will tip off at 3:30 PM ET from Madison Square Garden. According to the latest odds, the Celtics are favored by 5.5 points, with an over/under total of 205.5 points. For betting enthusiasts, Boston’s money line is set at -227, while New York stands at +185.

Why the Knicks Can Cover

New York is expected to have a supportive crowd, further motivating them to take a commanding series lead. They’ve successfully shown resilience, erasing significant leads in both games so far. Jalen Brunson scored 17 points last game and made crucial free throws in the final moments.

Mikal Bridges also contributed significantly, scoring all 14 of his points in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, teammates Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns have been instrumental, with Towns recording 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 2.

Why the Celtics Can Cover

Although Boston has struggled to maintain leads, they had noteworthy performances, including Derrick White and Jaylen Brown each scoring 20 points in Game 2. However, star Jayson Tatum fell short with a mere 13 points, shooting just 5-of-19. Furthermore, Kristaps Porzingis is expected to return to action on Saturday, offering the Celtics a much-needed boost.

How to Make Knicks vs. Celtics Picks

The SportsLine model has simulated the matchup 10,000 times, leaning toward the over, with projected points nearing 209. The model favors one side of the spread hitting in nearly 60% of observations. Follow SportsLine for detailed insights to explore which team may prevail.