Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA Playoffs Game 1 Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets

Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks (47-35) will look to upset Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers when the Knicks square off against the Cavaliers on April 15, 2023. The line has the Cavaliers favored by 5.5 points against the Knicks. The over/under for the matchup is 214.5.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Odds

• Cavaliers odds to win: -224
• Knicks odds to win: +185
• Spread: Cavaliers (-5.5)
• Total: 214.5

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• When: Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 6:00 PM ET
• Where: Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio
• TV: ESPN

Who Will Win Cavaliers vs. Knicks?

Cavaliers and Knicks Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

The Cavaliers are 19-9-1 against the spread when favored by 5.5 points or more this season.

The Knicks are 3-4-2 against the spread when an underdog by 5.5 points or more this year.

These teams average 228.3 points per game combined, 13.8 more than the over/under of 214.5.

Opponents of these two teams have averaged a combined 220 points per game, 5.5 more than the over/under in this game.

The average over/under the Cavaliers have had set in games this season is 4.6 more points than this outing’s point total.

The average over/under in New York’s games this year is 14.6 more points than the point total of 214.5 for this outing.

Cleveland has a 43-38-1 record against the spread this season.

The Knicks have a 45-35-2 record against the spread this season.

Cavaliers Stats & Insights

The Cavaliers are outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per game with a +441 scoring differential overall. They put up 112.3 points per game (25th in the NBA) and allow 106.9 per contest (first in the league).

The Cavaliers grab 41.1 rebounds per game (25th in the league) compared to the 41.2 of their opponents.

Cleveland knocks down 11.6 three-pointers per game (19th in the league), while its opponents have made 11.3 on average.

The Cavaliers rank 10th in the NBA with 113.7 points scored per 100 possessions, and first in the league defensively with 107.7 points conceded per 100 possessions.

So far in 2022-23, the Cavaliers’ offense has been better at home, where they average 113.2 points per game, compared to on the road, where they score 111.3 per game. On the defensive side of the ball, they have been tougher when playing at home, where they concede 105 points per game, versus on the road, where they allow their opponents to average 108.8 per game.

Knicks Stats & Insights

The Knicks have a +240 scoring differential, topping opponents by 2.9 points per game. They’re putting up 116 points per game, 11th in the league, and are allowing 113.1 per contest to rank 12th in the NBA.

New York prevails in the rebound battle by an average of 4.6 boards. It records 46.6 rebounds per game (second in league) compared to its opponents’ 42.

The Knicks make 12.6 three-pointers per game (11th in the league) compared to their opponents’ 13. They shoot 35.4% from deep, and their opponents shoot 35.7%.

The Knicks average 114.9 points per 100 possessions on offense (sixth in league), and allow 111.7 points per 100 possessions (16th in NBA).

New York is scoring more points at home (117.3 per game) than on the road (114.8).

Cavaliers Key Players to Watch

The scoring leader for the Cavaliers this season is Mitchell (among active players), who averages 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.

Darius Garland is averaging 21.6 points, 7.8 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game, while Evan Mobley adds 16.2 points, 2.8 assists and nine rebounds per outing.

Mitchell leads active Cavaliers in three-point shooting, making an average of 3.6 shots per game from beyond the arc.

Mitchell averages 1.5 steals per game, while Mobley swats 1.5 shots per contest.

Knicks Key Players to Watch

Brunson’s performance this season has resulted in strong scoring and assists numbers, with 24 points per game and 6.2 assists per game to go with 3.5 rebounds per contest.

Josh Hart’s per-game averages this season are 9.8 points, 3.8 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

Immanuel Quickley averages 2.1 made threes per game.

The Knicks’ defensive efforts get a boost from Hart (1.2 steals per game) and Mitchell Robinson (1.8 blocks per game).

• Pick ATS: Knicks (+ 5.5)
• Pick OU:

  Over (214.5)
  

• Prediction:
  Cavaliers 114 – Knicks 110