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The New York Knicks (35-25) and Cleveland Cavaliers (39-20) meet at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Sunday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Knicks vs. Cavaliers odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions.
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Knicks have failed to cover in 4 straight games. They’re coming off a 110-99 loss vs. the Golden State Warriors Thursday as the Under (223) hit. G Jalen Brunson had a team-high 27 points for New York, which failed to cover as a 3.5-point home underdog.
The Cavaliers covered as 7-point favorites with a 110-100 win over the Detroit Pistons Friday with the Under (219) cashing at Little Caesars Arena. The cover snapped a 7-game against-the-spread (ATS) skid for the Cavaliers, who have won 3 of their last 4 games straight up (SU).
Each team has covered once in 2 meetings this season, and the Under is 2-0. The road team has covered in both games, and the Cavaliers won SU as 5.5-point underdogs with a 95-89 upset in the most recent meeting Nov. 1.
Knicks at Cavaliers odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:08 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Knicks +200 (bet $100 to win $200) | Cavaliers -250 (bet $250 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Knicks +6.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -6.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 212.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Knicks at Cavaliers key injuries
Knicks
- F OG Anunoby (elbow) out
- F Julius Randle (shoulder) out
- C Mitchell Robinson (ankle) out
Cavaliers
- G Caris LeVert (elbow) questionable
- G Donovan Mitchell (knee) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
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Knicks at Cavaliers picks and predictions
Prediction
Cavaliers 105, Knicks 104
Moneyline
The Cavaliers (-250) should win at home, but I can’t recommend risking $250 to win $100 on a team that is 4-4 SU in its last 8 games, all as favorites.
PASS. Bet the spread and/or total instead.
Against the spread
It’s tough to trust either of these teams to cover a spread right now. The Knicks are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games and the Cavaliers are 1-7 in their last 8.
New York trailed by as many as 17 last time out, but it was able to cut the lead to just 4 points with 6:35 remaining. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, led by just 7 with 1:22 remaining at Detroit after choking away the majority of a 26-point, 4th-quarter lead.
Cleveland’s poor 4th quarter last time out worries me more than the Knicks falling victim to a hot-shooting night from Warriors G Stephen Curry, who had 31 points on 8-of-18 shooting from 3.
LEAN KNICKS +6.5 (-110).
Over/Under
Call me square, but the Under has hit in the last 7 meetings between these teams, and that is not a trend that I’m looking to fade.
The Under is also 7-1 in the last 8 Knicks games, and they keep finding ways to score as few points as possible while playing respectable defense. New York has scored under 100 points in back-to-back games and allowed 111 or fewer in 4 of its last 7.
BET UNDER 212.5 (-110).
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