New York at Boston

Defending champion Boston fully expects to win it again in 2024-25, and it has locked up most of its roster for years to come with enormous contracts. The starting five will likely be Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford, although center Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely with a leg injury. The top 11 scorers return from a team that went 64-18 in the regular season and then cruised through the playoffs with a 16-3 mark. New York traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns and acquired Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn. Boston has won five of the past six meetings with a 4-1-1 ATS record. It's Ring Night for the Celtics, but don't expect a letdown from this crew. The Knicks will need a little time to acclimate their new acquisitions. Lay the points with the Celtics.