NBA: Knicks vs Cavaliers Odds, and Picks (Apr 18)
- The Knicks took down the Cavs on the road in Game 1.
- Cleveland’s 101-97 loss puts them in a difficult spot.
- New York is 4-1 on this season as a whole against the Cavaliers.
The Knicks (48-35) and the Cavaliers (51-32) face off in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. New York pulled off an impressive upset in Game 1, taking the lead, while Cleveland needs to even things out.
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How to Watch
- Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH
- When: Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 7:30 p.m ET
- Howย toย Watch: TNT
Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread |
| Knicks | ||
| Cavaliers |
Picks
New York managed to complete a massive upset in Cleveland on Saturday, taking game one of the series. The Knicks jumped out in front early and led for nearly the entire game, looking like the better team from start to finish. The Cavs managed to make a late run and take a 93-92 lead, but Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer on the next possession that wrapped things up. Hart was shaken up in the win, and is doubtful for game 2.
The Cavaliers were unable to reach 100 points against the Knicks defense in their loss, despite a 38-point performance from Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland needs their bench to do a much better job in their coming games. They were outscored 37-14 by New York in Game 1, causing them to lose despite outplaying the Knicks when the starters were on the court. The Cavs need to capitalize on Hart’s absence and win here.
Picks
The probable absence of Josh Hart, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in game 1, will be a key factor in this game. I had the Knicks winning this series in my original preview, and the result of the first game made me feel even more confident in that prediction. That being said, I don’t expect the Knicks to win every game, and winning on the road without Hart will be tough. I’ll take the Cavs by 3 points here.
Moneyline:
Spread:
