The Cleveland Cavaliers (9-9) stop by Madison Square Garden Friday for a 7:30 p.m. game against the New York Knicks (8-11). Below, we analyze the Cavaliers-Knicks NBA odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Cleveland beat the Detroit Pistons 122-107 at home Wednesday to break a two-game losing skid, which came against two of the NBA’s best in the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Knicks have to be eager to be back in the Garden after playing six of their last seven games on the road. Following a 106-103 loss at Cleveland Jan. 15, New York won three straight and then dropped three in a row (4-2 against the spread in those six games) entering Friday’s game.
These teams split their first two meetings this season. Prior to their 106-103 loss in the previous game, the Knicks won and covered four in a row against the Cavs.
Cavaliers at Knicks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Cavaliers -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Knicks +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Cavaliers -1.5 (-110) | Knicks +1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 209.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cavaliers at Knicks: Key injuries
Cavaliers
- PF Larry Nance Jr. (wrist) questionable
- PF Kevin Love (calf) out
- PG Matthew Dellavedova (concussion) out
Knicks
- SG Alec Burks (ankle) probable
- SG Reggie Bullock (neck) questionable
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Cavaliers at Knicks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Knicks 107, Cavaliers 101
Money line (ML)
I’m pretty much looking to fade the market here, which has steamed the Cavs up to slight favorites after bookmakers opened them as slight dogs.
The Cavs won three in a row from Jan. 15-22, with the 106-103 win over the Knicks followed by back-to-back wins over the Brooklyn Nets. My read on the pro-Cavs money is the market overvaluing these wins, especially against a Nets team that doesn’t compete defensively. Brooklyn will out-score the competition more often than not but isn’t really trying to defend anyone.
It’s the polar opposite for the Knicks, who have the seventh-best defensive rating and hold opponents to the lowest effective field-goal percentage. New York had a subpar defensive outing in its loss to Cleveland but the Cavs are 28th in offensive turnover percentage and 24th in effective field-goal percentage.
New York and Cleveland mirror each other in a lot of ways but thus far the Knicks have been more efficient. The Cavs are lower ranked in both offensive and defensive ratings.
I’ll TAKE the KNICKS (+100) for 1 unit.
Against the spread (ATS)
PASS ON THE SPREAD.
Over/Under (O/U)
As you can see, BetMGM’s projection lines up with my prediction and if the line is right, there’s no value in betting it. The market is hammering the Over and moved the total up from a 205-point opener so I lean Over but not enough to place a wager.
PASS.
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Also see:
- 2021 NBA Mock Draft consensus 1.0: The complete first round (Rookie Wire)
- Hoops Hype rumors: Knicks | Cavaliers
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