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Sportsbook.com had the line for the Knicks-Celtics game set at -7 with a total of193
The defending Eastern Conference Champions showed they still have some magic left in them as they rallied from down 12 points at the half to defeat the Knicks 87-85 in Game One of their Eastern Conference First Round series. New York blew a golden chance to take the upper hand in the series on Sunday, and still hope to go to Madison Square Garden on Friday tied at one game apiece.
The Knicks have to be asking themselves what exactly do they have to do to beat the Celtics. For the third time this season, the Knicks led Boston by double-digits in the second half, only to lose the game in the final minutes. After missing most of the first quarter with foul trouble, Carmelo Anthony scored 12 points in the second quarter, but just like his first game against Boston as a Knick on March 21, Anthony went silent in the second half. Anthony is just 1-16 for a total of eight points in his two career games as a Knick against Boston in the second half. The Knicks will need Anthony even more on Tuesday, as Chauncey Billups will most likely not play after sustaining a knee injury late in Game One. Amar’e Stoudemire came to play in Game One, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He needs to pick up some of the slack that the Knicks will miss without Billups.
Despite winning Game One, the Celtics realize they need to play a lot better if they want to advance further in the postseason. Paul Pierce finished with 18 points on just 6-16 shooting with four turnovers, while Kevin Garnett made just 5-14 shots, scoring 15 points. With Shaquille O’Neal out for Game Two, Boston hopes to get a similar performance from Jermaine O’Neal who was outstanding in Game One. O’Neal scored 12 points on 6-6 shooting, and grabbed three key offensive rebounds.
The Celtics have won 10 straight games (including postseason) against the Knicks at home.
Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
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