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Best Bets for NBA & MLB - Thursday, April 9, 2026

The NBA regular season ends in days, and Celtics-Knicks at MSG tonight is a seeding battle with major playoff implications on Amazon Prime. On the diamond, the AL East-leading Yankees close out their home series against the Athletics at 1:35 PM ET, a 10-2 powerhouse against a 3-7 team that has kept each game within a run late.

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

Celtics 54-25 (2-seed East, W4); Knicks 51-28 (3-seed East, W3). Boston can clinch the 2-seed with a win. Knicks need Boston to lose all 3 remaining games to have any shot at 2nd.

7:30 PM ET·Amazon Prime Video

Boston is 4-2 in its last 10 road games ATS, but four starters — Jaylen Brown (Achilles), Sam Hauser (back), Neemias Queta (toe), and Derrick White (knee) — are listed as questionable, which is the primary driver behind New York being a 4-point home favorite. The Knicks are 7-3 in their last 10, shooting 50.4% from the field, and have won 6 of the last 10 head-to-head meetings. Boston's last 10 on the road have produced a combined total above 216.5 in 3 of 5 contests, and both teams rank in the top third offensively. New York's home-court advantage at MSG, combined with Boston's potential absence of multiple starters, favors the Knicks.

Injuries

🟢 Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Sam Hauser (low back spasm) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Neemias Queta (right toe sprain) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Derrick White (right knee contusion) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Tyler Kolek (oblique) — QUESTIONABLE

🟢 Jayson Tatum — ACTIVE (only Celtics starter not on injury report)

Best Bets

Knicks -4.0 -110

Boston's injury cloud is real: four starters are questionable heading into MSG. The Knicks are 7-3 in their last 10 and own a 6-4 head-to-head edge this season.

Over 217.5 -110

Both teams rank in the top 10 offensively, and the total has cleared 216.5 in Boston's last two road games. Multiple Celtics injuries could actually push the pace and open the game up late.

Jalen Brunson Over 20.5 points -115

Brunson averages 18.9 points per game over his last 10 and typically elevates in high-stakes home games at MSG. A shorthanded Celtics defense with a questionable Derrick White creates opportunity.

Athletics at the New York Yankees

Yankees 8-2 (1st AL East); Athletics 3-7 (last AL West). The Yankees lead this 3-game series 1-1 after each team's bullpen surrendered a late lead in games 1 and 2.

1:35 PM ET·YES Network, NBC Sports California, MLB.TV

New York enters with a 2.42 team ERA — one of the best in the AL — while Oakland's staff posts a 5.52 ERA, among the worst in baseball. Ryan Weathers starts for the Yankees; Jeffrey Springs (2.38 ERA) counters for Oakland. Springs is a soft-tosser who lives on his changeup, but New York sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton can get barrels to any pitch. The Yankees are 8-1 ATS this season and have won 7 of 8 as a favorite. New York is hitting just .161 against left-handed pitching, which gives Springs a legitimate angle to keep Oakland in the game, but the talent gap is too wide in the series clincher.

Injuries

🔴 Gerrit Cole (elbow, Tommy John recovery) — OUT (IL)

🔴 Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery recovery) — OUT (IL)

🔴 Clarke Schmidt (elbow, internal brace surgery) — OUT (IL)

🔴 Anthony Volpe (left shoulder surgery recovery) — OUT (IL)

🔴 Gunnar Hoglund (right knee sprain) — OUT (IL)

Best Bets

Yankees ML-190

New York is 8-1 ATS on the season and 7-1 as a moneyline favorite. The pitching gap between a 2.42 ERA staff and a 5.52 ERA staff is too large to fade in a series clincher.

Under 8.0-110

Springs has posted a 2.38 ERA through two starts, suppressing barrels effectively. Weathers mixes a heavy fastball and sinker combo that limits hard contact, and both bullpens are fresh.

Aaron Judge to hit a home run +300

Judge has 3 HR in 10 games and the Yankees' analytics note he generates barrels against any pitch type. At plus-money in a series clincher at Yankee Stadium, the value is strong.

⚡ Sharp Play

Celtics vs Knicks — Celtics +4.0 -110

While the injury report favors fading Boston, sharp money historically targets the side that the public is overreacting to. Tatum is healthy, Boston is 8-2 in its last 10, and the Knicks' -4 number has inflated on the back of injury news. If even two or three Boston starters get cleared before tip, this line is a full point too high and you'll want Boston getting the points at MSG.