The New York Knicks (44-33) will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers (48-29) Friday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Knicks vs. Cavaliers odds, and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
On Wednesday, the Knicks covered as 6-point home favorites in their 101-92 win over the Miami Heat. New York is 4 games behind Cleveland for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers lost 120-118 to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday despite covering as 3-point road underdogs. Cleveland is only 2.5 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
This will be the 4th meeting between the Knicks and the Cavaliers this season. The home team has won the 1st 3 meetings (New York is 2-1) and the Over/Under is 1-2.
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Knicks at Cavaliers odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:18 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Knicks +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Cavaliers -170 (bet $170 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Knicks +3.5 (-102) | Cavaliers -3.5 (-118)
- Over/Under (O/U): 222.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Knicks at Cavaliers key injuries
Knicks
- F Julius Randle (ankle) out
Cavaliers
- C Jarrett Allen (groin) doubtful
- F Isaac Okoro (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Knicks at Cavaliers picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 112, Knicks 104
Moneyline
AVOID.
The Cavaliers are expected to secure the victory on Friday, but taking their money line isn’t worth the risk at the current odds (-170).
Against the spread
With Randle sidelined for multiple weeks for the Knicks, CAVALIERS -3.5 (-118) is the pick in this potential 1st-round playoff preview. Even with Allen likely out for Cleveland, F Evan Mobley, G Donovan Mitchell, and G Darius Garland are enough to win by at least 4 points at home.
The Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games playing on 2 days of rest and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 222.5 (-115).
With Randle out, the Knicks could struggle to generate enough offense to score on the Cavaliers, who are No. 1 in defensive rating. Both of these teams are also bottom 5 in pace as fewer than 222 points have been scored in 4 of the last 5 meetings.
The Knicks are 4-0 to the Under in their last 4 games overall, while the Cavaliers are 4-1 to the Under in their last 5 games playing on 2 days of rest.
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