The Knicks took Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round playoff series with the Cavaliers 101-97 as +5 point underdogs, but maybe that shouldn’t have been a surprise considering New York has now won four straight in the head to head series. Cleveland will try to tie things up on Tuesday night, because they do not want to go back to Madison Square Garden down 0-2.
Before Betting on Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 2
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell won the battle of the coveted offseason acquisitions with 38 points in Game 1, but the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson won the war scoring 21 points in the 2nd half and stepping up to hit big shots down the stretch.
The Knicks may be set up for success later in the series as they used a deep rotation and spread minutes out sparingly in Game 1, while Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen all logged 40+ in the opener. New York coach Tom Thibodeau may have to tighten things up on Tuesday though, as one of the biggest bench sparks from Sunday, Josh Hart (17 points, 10 rebounds) sprained his ankle and is doubtful for Game 2.
While the Hart absence will definitely hurt the Knicks, there is some good news on the injury front as Julius Randle played 33 minutes scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds after missing time at the end of the regular season with an ankle injury. His presence helped New York to a 53-38 rebounding advantage in Game 1.
New York vs Cleveland NBA Offshore Betting Odds
| Offshore Sportsbook | Moneyline | Total | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | Knicks (2.90) | Cavs (1.45) | 214 | Knicks +5.5 (1.93) | Cavs -5.5 (1.88) |
| Bovada | Knicks (2.85) | Cavs (1.44) | 214 | Knicks +5 (1.91) | Cavs -5 (1.91) |
| BetUS | Knicks (2.80) | Cavs (1.45) | 214 | Knicks +5.5 (1.91) | Cavs -5.5 (1.91) |
| SportsBetting.ag | Knicks (2.90) | Cavs (1.45) | 214 | Knicks +5.5 (1.93) | Cavs -5.5 (1.88) |
| Pinnacle | Knicks (2.86) | Cavs (1.48) | 214 | Knicks +5.5 (1.95) | Cavs -5.5 (1.95) |
| MyBookie | Knicks (2.77) | Cavs (1.45) | 214 | Knicks +5.5 (1.91) | Cavs -5 (1.91) |
Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 2 Prediction & Pick
This series is going to be a fight night in and night out, and in that regard the +5.5 points is way too much. It’s possible the Cavs play a bit more relaxed now that the likes of Garland and Evan Mobley have gotten their playoff debuts out of the way, but New York is still the play here.
