Boston Celtics at New York Knicks 5/16/21 - NBA Picks & Predictions

The Boston Celtics complete a back-to-back on Sunday when visiting the New York Knicks after playing on the road Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Boston is 35-35 and will finish its regular season seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and will take part in the play-in tournament this week. Boston has lost four straight and seven of the last 10. Boston will play Sunday without Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker, Robert Williams II and Tristan Thompson

Jayson Tatum is the leading scorer for Boston with an average of 26.4 points per game. Tristan Thompson is the leading rebounder for Boston with an average of 8.1 rebounds per game and Marcus Smart is the leader in assists with an average of 5.7 per game. Boston scores an average of 112.8 points per game and allows an average of 111.5 points per game. 

The New York Knicks complete a back to back on Sunday when hosting Boston after playing at home on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets. New York is 39-31 and sixth in theEastern Conference standings tied with fifth place Miami and a half game behind fourth place Atlanta. The Knicks could finish as high as fourth in the conference standings with two consecutive wins to end the season and losses by both the Heat and Hawks.

Julius Randle is leading New York in scoring, rebounding and assists with averages of 24.0 points, 10 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. The second-leading scorer is R.J. Barrett with an average of 17.6 points per game and Derrick Rose is the third leading scorer with an average of 15.1 points per game. New York is scoring an average of 107.0 points per game and allowing an average of 105.0 points per game.