NBA Predictions & Odds 4/15/23

New York Knicks (47-35) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31)
April 15, 2023 6:00 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5; Over/Under: +217.5
(Get latest betting odds)

The New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers collide in Game 1 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Saturday night.

The New York Knicks were one of the streakiest teams in the league all season, but they will be feeling quietly confident after winning eight of their last 13 games of the regular season to finish fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. Julius Randle led the team with averages of 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, Jalen Brunson averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists per game while RJ Barrett averaged 19.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. As a team, the Knicks averaged 116.0 points per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from the 3-point line.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers won nine of their last 13 games of the regular season to earn the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference standings. Donovan Mitchell led the team with averages of 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, Darius Garland averaged 21.6 points and 7.8 assists per game while Evan Mobley averaged 16.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. As a team, the Cavaliers scored 112.3 points per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from the 3-point line.

Looking at the betting trends, the Knicks are 36-15-1 ATS in their last 52 road games, 1-4 ATS in their last five Conference Quarterfinals games and 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on three or more days’ rest. The Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven home games, 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five games overall. 

Head to head, the Knicks are 9-4 ATS in the last 13 meetings overall and the Knicks are 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings in Cleveland. 

The Knicks are coming into this series with plenty of winning momentum, but they could be shorthanded as Julius Randle is currently listed as questionable, while the Cavaliers are keeping an eye on the Cleveland Cavaliers who are questionable with knee soreness. The Knicks were able to win the season series by 3-1, but with the injury cloud hanging over Randle, I think the Cavaliers can kick off this series with a win at home.