The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Cavaliers are 1.5-point favorites over the Knicks on the spread (Cavaliers -1.5), with the over/under set at 228.5 total points. Cleveland is a -125 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while New York is +105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions and NBA picks for Wednesday, October 22.
My Cavaliers vs Knicks Prediction
- Cavaliers vs Knicks picks:Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 Points (-120), Donovan Mitchell 30+ Points (+165)
My Knicks vs Cavaliers best bet is on Donovan Mitchell over 25.5 points. But as always, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Odds
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 228.5 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 228.5 -110o / -110u | +105 |
Cavaliers vs Knicks NBA Preview
What could possibly go wrong?
These are the two teams we expect to be standing when the Eastern Conference dust settles and we're discussing the NBA's "final four" deep into May.
Things always go according to expectations, don't they?
The Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks have the most pressure of anyone in the East to make it to the NBA Finals, or else either prospective team — or both — will face dire questions about their immediate future.
In fact, you could convincingly argue that the Knicks and Cavs face the most pressure to win now compared to anyone across both conferences.
In fact, I'll make that argument.
The Thunder and Nuggets have a title. The Bucks are dying to keep Giannis, but ultimately, they have their title, and no one actually thinks they can get another this season.
The Rockets and Lakers aren't at title or bust yet, the Golden State Warriors probably have their titles (sorry, Jimmy Butler), and the Minnesota Timberwolves have a still ascending, world class talent in Anthony Edwards, for the time being.
No one has more pressure than New York, more specifically. When they fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, they said in their own press release, "Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans."
That remark was noted in line one, followed by, "This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we’ve decided to move in another direction."
As for Cleveland, this core four has won two playoff series' in three seasons together while failing to beat down the "soft" allegations.
Now, in both Eastern Conference Semis of the last two seasons, they were compromised by injuries, but thoroughly outplayed enough to where it's hard to use that as an excuse — particularly last season, where they were favored to beat the Pacers in round two.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Prediction, Betting Analysis
For Donovan Mitchell, 25.5 points is just too low.
No Darius Garland, no Max Strus, and De'Andre Hunter is day-to-day.
Mitchell went over this in three of five without Garland last regular season.
Since joining Cleveland, he's averaging 29.6 points in 33 games without Garland, according to StatMuse.
Mitchell is also kind of a Knick killer.
Since coming to Cleveland, he's over 25.5 points in 6-of-9 in the regular season, 8-of-14 when adding the 2023 playoffs.
Picks: Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 Points (-120) / 30+ Points (+165)
Spread
No play on the spread.
Moneyline
No play on the moneyline.
Over/Under
No play on the over/under, either.
Knicks vs Cavaliers Betting Trends
