Knicks look for life Friday night

The New York Knicks had a couple of near-misses in Boston in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with the Celtics, but close doesn't get you anywhere in the NBA championship tournament. So down two games to none in this best-of-seven series New York will try to get on the board when they host Boston for Game 3 on Friday night at MSG (7 pm Eastern, ESPN).

That game is just part of what should be another entertaining weekend of NBA playoff betting action at oddsmaker.ag.

Also Friday night the Atlanta Hawks will try to take advantage of earning a split of the first two games in Orlando when they host the Magic for their Game 3 (8 Eastern, ESPN2). And the New Orleans Hornets, who got the split of the first two games in Los Angeles, host the Lakers for another Game 3 (9:30 Eastern, ESPN).

Then comes a big NBA Saturday. First the Chicago Bulls, who could be up three games to none over Indiana by this time, are in Indianapolis to play a Game 4 with the Pacers (2:30 Eastern, TNT). Then the Portland Trail Blazers, who lost the first two games of their series in Dallas, host Game 4 of that series (5 Eastern, TNT). Then the Memphis Grizzlies, who managed a split of the first two games of their series in San Antonio, host the Spurs for their Game 3 (7:30 Eastern, ESPN). And the Denver Nuggets, down 0-2 to Oklahoma City, host the Thunder for that Game 3 (10 Eastern, ESPN).

New York had a chance to win Game 1 in Boston but got hit with an offensive foul call on Carmelo Anthony late in the fourth quarter, then allowed Ray Allen to hit a game-winning 3-pointer in an 87-85 Celtics victory. Then the Knicks couldn't get off a shot late in Game 2, and couldn't foul quick enough to extend the clock right at the end and lost 96-93. So despite going toe-to-toe with the Celts for 96 minutes, the New Yorkers came up empty in Beantown.

And the Knicks might have to go on without PG Chauncey Billups, who hurt his knee late in Game 1 and did not play in Game 2. Billups is listed as doubtful for Friday night.

Boston is now 4-0 straight-up, 2-2 vs. the oddsmaker.ag pointspreads in its four games vs. New York since the Knicks made their big trade back in February.

These two teams will play Game 4 of their series Sunday (3:30 Eastern, ABC).

As of Thursday morning oddsmaker.ag is listing the Celtics at -900 to go on and win this series, with New York getting +600 to rally and pull off the upset.