The No. 5 seed Knicks will try to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the No. 4 Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) in Game 2 of the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Knicks stole home-court advantage in Game 1 on Saturday evening, defeating the Cavaliers 101-97.
New York had three players in double figures, led by Jalen Brunson, who scored 27 points and made a lot of tough shots down the stretch in his Knicks' playoff debut. Meanwhile, Julius Randle had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Lastly, Josh Hart played huge minutes off the bench with 17 points and 10 rebounds, but it's worth noting that he's listed as "questionable" due to an ankle injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of Game 1.
As for the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell carried the offense, scoring 38 points on 14-of-30 shooting from the field and 6-of-16 from beyond the arc. Mitchell also dished out a team-high eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. Darius Garland (17 points and four steals) and Jarrett Allen (14 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists) played well, but Cleveland's bench was non-existent (14 total points). It's tough to win in the playoffs when your bench was outplayed and outscored by 20 points. Caris LeVert and Ricky Rubio have to be bigger factors in Game 2 if the Cavs want to tie this series tonight.
Will the Knicks head back to Madison Square Garden up 2-0, or will the Cavaliers rebound and take back home court tonight? Below, we'll break down tonight's Knicks-Cavaliers matchup, giving our prediction and best bets for the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers odds, picks, predictions
- Spread: Knicks +5.5 (-110); Cavaliers -5.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: OVER 214.5 (-110); UNDER 214.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Knicks +180; Cavaliers -225
After pulling off the upset in Game 1, the Knicks are 6.5-point underdogs against the Cavaliers heading into Game 2. The spread initially opened at 4.5 in favor of the Cavaliers, who played well at home during the regular season.
The betting public believes that Cleveland can right the ship at home, as they are receiving 73 percent of the bets (64 percent of the handle) on the spread and 54 percent of the bets (88 percent of the handle) on the moneyline. The Josh Hart injury might play a factor in the public swinging toward Cleveland's favor, as he's been an impact player since joining the Knicks at the trade deadline.
The Cavaliers are 24-17-1 against the spread at home (including the playoffs) this season and 23-16-1 ATS as a home favorite. Despite not getting much from their bench, Cleveland still had a chance to win Game 1. If the Cavs can win the battle on the boards, which they lost in Game 1 (51-38), and cash in on Knicks' turnovers (26 points off 16 turnovers), then Cleveland should be in good shape.
At the same time, bettors should not count out the Knicks, who are 27-14-1 ATS on the road and 18-12-1 as a road 'dog this season. However, New York is 1-6 straight up on the moneyline as an underdog of six points or more. With that in mind, bettors might want to stay away from Knicks' moneyline but should consider the spread tonight. The uncertainty around Hart's injury could make it tough for Knicks offensively, especially if R.J. Barrett and Quentin Grimes cannot get going from the perimeter. The Cavs will win tonight, but the Knicks will cover the spread as the series moves to the Big Apple.
Prediction: Cavaliers 104, Knicks 100. The Knicks (+5.5) cover the spread, with the game going UNDER the total (214.5)
Best player prop bet for Knicks vs. Cavaliers: Julius Randle OVER 3.5 assists (+120)
This player prop bet for Randle will go under the radar, as most bettors will target his points, rebounds, and three-point props after his performance in Game 1. However, bettors can find some value in Randle's assists prop, which is at plus money. The veteran power forward has dished out more than 3.5 assists in six out of his past 10 games, including Game 1 on Saturday (4).
In three regular-season games against the Cavaliers, he averaged five assists and seven potential assists per game. Granted, the Cavaliers allowed the third-fewest assists per game by PFs this season (3.42), but that hasn't stopped Randle, who will play a significant role in what happens in Game 2.
