The Eastern Conference Finals continue on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers. On Tuesday, New York somehow came back from 22 points down with fewer than eight minutes left to steal the series opener and take a 1-0 lead.
Let’s dive into my Cavs vs. Knicks Game 2 prediction.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks odds
Money line: Cavaliers +180 / Knicks -218
Spread: Cavaliers +6.5 (-115) / Knicks -6.5 (-105)
Total: Over 215.5 (-108) / Under 215.5 (-112)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks best bet: Over 215.5 (-108)
The regular-season totals between these two teams were 228.5, 231.5, and 241.5, but the number dipped to 216.5 in Game 1 and now to 215.5. Obviously the commitment to defense is much greater in the playoffs, but this still feels too low. Fatigue could still be a factor for Cleveland, which battled through back-to-back seven-game series against Toronto and Cleveland and then had to play an overtime contest on Tuesday. Tired legs can be a real thing, and they often lead to poor defense.
The Cavaliers’ defense was decent for much of the way in Game 1, but the unit fell apart late. The Knicks scored 32 points in the fourth quarter and 14 in OT. There are reasons to think that the offenses will improve in Game 2. For the home side, Jalen Brunson (1-for-6), OG Anunoby (1-for-6), Karl-Anthony Towns (1-for-5), and Josh Hart (1-for-5) were all miserable from three-point range. For the visitors, James Harden (1-for-8) was even worse from the land of plenty. It’s hard to think those guys will be so hopeless from downtown again in Game 2. And despite those shooting woes, Brunson still went for 38 points and his team as a whole managed 115.
The over is 5-1 in Cleveland’s last six overall and 3-0 in their its three trips to Madison Square Garden. The over is also 5-2 in the Knicks’ last seven games dating back to round one against Atlanta.