There is a thing called sentiment and narrative, and both can have an enormous influence on market perception. Both Boston and New York lost on Opening Day, but the reaction to those defeats couldn't be more contrasting. Boston looked like easy money as a -1.5 road favorite in Detroit, leading by 22 before the Pistons stormed back with a 23-0 fourth-quarter run to win by six. If you were holding a Celtics ticket, that had to hurt and creates natural aversion here. Meanwhile, New York's home defeat to Philadelphia is considerably easier to forgive. The Sixers are expected to be a beast in the East with their enhanced roster and so far have looked the part. The defending champions had the distractions of raising a banner and receiving their rings at MSG. Thus, a championship hangover was contagious, if you will, and the result was to be expected. Many faded New York on Tuesday for these very reasons.
Yet, here is Boston laying even more points against the defending champs in their second outing of the 2026-27 campaign. That is what makes this price so intriguing. Had the Celtics finished the job in Detroit and won by 25, the sentiment surrounding them would be entirely different here. Some may call this an underlay, ironically enough. Instead, we're getting an opportunity to buy low on a team whose opening day collapse has seemingly overshadowed everything else. The market isn't asking us to forgive Boston. It's asking us to recognize the value in the reaction to one set of results.
Knicks vs. Celtics prediction: Boston Celtics -2.5 (+102) available at time of publishing. Playable to the number.
