In their final home game of the regular season, the New York Knicks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the last opportunity for the Knicks to secure a victory against a top-seeded Eastern Conference team. The Knicks, with a 50-30 record, have previously lost all three games against the Cavaliers, who lead the East at 63-17, and are also winless against the Boston Celtics in four matchups. Several key players are listed as questionable or out for both teams. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell is out with an ankle injury, De`Andre Hunter is resting, and Ty Jerome is sidelined with a knee injury. New York faces uncertainty with Jalen Brunson questionable due to an ankle issue, Karl-Anthony Towns with a knee injury, Josh Hart also questionable with a knee problem, and OG Anunoby listed as questionable with a thumb injury.
The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York City. According to sports betting consensus, the Knicks are slight 1-point favorites. The over/under for the game is set at 225 points. On the money line, New York is at -113, while Cleveland is at -106.
Cavaliers` Strengths
The Cavaliers have demonstrated their resilience, particularly when Donovan Mitchell is absent, boasting an 8-1 record in such games, with many wins being by a significant margin. Having practically secured the top seed in the Eastern Conference for weeks, Cleveland has maintained a strong 7-3 record in their last 10 games, even while resting key players, highlighting their strong team depth. This depth and variety of playmakers are key to Cleveland`s success and their ability to potentially continue their winning streak against the Knicks, regardless of player availability.
The Cavaliers possess the league`s leading scoring offense, averaging 122.2 points per game. In their recent game against the Indiana Pacers, despite resting key starters, they only narrowly lost 114-112, with strong performances from reserve players like Craig Porter Jr. and Isaac Okoro. This performance suggests their capability to perform strongly even with player absences.
Knicks` Strengths
While the Cavaliers` playoff seeding is secure, the Knicks are still actively competing to maintain their No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, holding a narrow one-game lead over the Pacers. Although some fans might speculate on the advantages of dropping to the No. 4 seed to potentially avoid an early series against the Celtics, NBA teams typically prioritize the highest possible seed. The Knicks are on the verge of achieving their highest win total since the 2012-13 season. Securing a win against Cleveland could provide valuable momentum and psychological advantage should these teams meet again in the playoffs.
The Knicks have been performing well recently, with a 7-4 record in their last 11 games and a 20-15-1 record against the spread as home favorites this season. Karl-Anthony Towns recently scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The potential return of key players like Hart, Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson, who rested in the previous game, could further bolster the Knicks` lineup and give them an advantage in available key players for this important matchup.
Game Prediction
Statistical models suggest a high-scoring game, projecting over 227 points to be scored. The models also indicate a strong probability for one side of the spread to cover. For detailed game predictions and betting advice, refer to sports analysis platforms.
Betting Information
Here are the betting odds and related information for the Cavaliers vs. Knicks game:
- Spread: Knicks -1
- Over/Under: 225 points
- Money Line: Knicks -113, Cavaliers -106
- Cavaliers ATS as away underdog this season: 5-1
- Knicks ATS over last eight games: 6-2
Jasper Hawthorne