The Eastern Conference Finals tip off on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers. New York is well rested after sweeping Philadelphia in the previous round. Cleveland, on the other hand, needed seven games to oust top-seeded Detroit.
Let’s dive into my Cavs vs. Knicks Game 1 prediction.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks odds
Money line: Cavaliers +225 / Knicks -275
Spread: Cavaliers +7.5 (-115) / Knicks -7.5 (-105)
Total: Over 216.5 (-110) / Under 216.5 (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks best bet: Over 216.5 (-110)
The Knicks have not played a game since May 10. When they have enjoyed a lot of time off (albeit never this much!), they have come back out like gangbusters. Jalen Brunson and company got three days off in between rounds one and two and immediately torched the 76ers for 137 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis. They also scored a respectable 113 points in Game 1 against Atlanta following five days off in between the regular season and the playoffs.
More of the same should continue against a fatigued opponent. Tired legs usually show up more on the defensive end of the court, so Cleveland’s defensive tenacity could be in question on Tuesday.
As for the Knicks’ offense, Brunson has been his normal self — if not even better than normal — in the playoffs. In his team’s four-game sweep of Philly, the Villanova product shot 51.3 percent from the floor, 44.8 percent from three-point land, and 92.0 percent from the free-throw line. Brunson averaged 31.3 ppg in the first three games against the Sixers and then went for 22 points in just 28 minutes in Game 4 before leaving early in a 144-114 blowout.
The three regular-season H2H matchups between CLE and NY had totals of 228.5, 231.5, and 241.5. Obviously there is more of a commitment to defense in the playoffs than there is in the regular season, but plunging all the way down to 216.5 may be too steep.
The over is 4-1 in the Cavaliers’ last five overall, 2-0 in their last two trips to New York, and 4-2 in the Knicks’ last six overall.