The Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1) and New York Knicks (1-0) will square off in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game will broadcast live on ESPN.
The Knicks are 6.5-point favorites over the Cavs on the spread (Knicks -6.5), with the over/under set at 216.5 total points. New York is a -218 moneyline favorite to win outright and take a two-game lead, while Cleveland is listed as a +180 underdog to pull off the upset and tie the series at one game apiece.
Can Cleveland throw off the haters, or will New York continue to bing and bong its way toward a Finals appearance? Let's get into my Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 2 predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, May 21.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Prediction
- Cavaliers vs Knicks pick: Knicks -6.5 (-105)
My Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 2 best bet is on New York to cover the spread (-6.5). Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Odds for Game 2
| Cavaliers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6.5 -115 | 216.5 -110o / -110u | +180 |
| Knicks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6.5 -105 | 216.5 -110o / -110u | -218 |
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Cavaliers vs Knicks NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview, Analysis
The Cavaliers look to rebound from the abomination that was their Game 1 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals as they take on the Knicks in the Garden again this Thursday. It might have been the worst collapse in a single game in NBA history.
The immediate concern for Cleveland starts with health. Donovan Mitchell was mostly used as a decoy late in the game and was seen walking gingerly to the locker room; his status for Game 2 is currently unknown.
Making matters worse, coach Kenny Atkinson chalked up the Cavs' historic Game 1 collapse to “luck.” That is a ridiculous thing to say when you failed to call a timeout during an 18-1 New York run, and simultaneously allowed James Harden to get slow-roasted over an open flame for 13 minutes of game time over and over.
But, it was only one game, no matter the score or how it happened. Now, the Cavaliers will attempt to get even with a New York squad riding a seven-game playoff winning streak.
New York Knicks Betting Preview, Analysis
From New York's perspective, so much had to go perfectly right for the Cavs for them to even build their initial lead. The Knicks ultimately got to have a bad game, find the tactical answers that they needed on the fly, and won the game anyway. That’s a pretty great combination for a team looking to protect home court.
New York's bench continues to be a huge factor in these playoffs. Mike Brown showed in Game 1 that when the Knicks needed a spark, he was willing to bench Josh Hart and put in Landry Shamet. He's been pushing the right buttons at the right times.
Going into this series, the coaching matchup was the most uncertain element because neither of these head coaches really inspires a ton of confidence. But despite trailing by over 20 points early, Brown passed the opening test with flying colors because of how masterfully he handled the late-game adjustments and how poorly Atkinson managed it.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Picks, Betting Analysis
Knicks -6.5 (-105)
When looking at the point spread, the situational data strongly backs New York. Teams that had to come back in the fourth quarter (winning after trailing after three frames) as home favorites in Game 2 are 21-10 SU and 17-14 (55%) ATS since 2003, including a 4-2 record in the conference finals.
Here’s the other thing: I cannot trust Kenny Atkinson to adjust. There are clear answers on film for the Cavs, and they showed flashes of them in Game 1. But Atkinson simply has not demonstrated an ability to push the right buttons in these playoffs; that’s why it has taken the Cavs 15 exhausting games just to get to Game 2 of this series.
The Cavs won’t scram switches to get Harden out of the action. They won’t blitz with both defenders in small-small screen actions. They won’t bench Sam Merrill despite his glaring -17 rating in Game 1. They won’t play Jaylon Tyson, who recorded a DNP-CD, and they refuse to reduce Dennis Schröder’s minutes.
Atkinson will just keep throwing the exact same stuff out there because he rigidly believes in it. But raw talent isn’t enough at this stage of the postseason, and I think this structural coaching spot favors the Knicks in Game 2 tonight.
Over 216.5 (-110)
The market total is sitting right in prime territory for another high-scoring environment. The historical trends tracking overtime filters are incredibly consistent:
- The over in Game 2s after Game 1 went to overtime: 12-8 since 2003.
- The over in all playoff games directly following an overtime game: 30-21-2 since 2003 (including a 5-3 mark in the conference finals).
- The over in Cavs road games this postseason: 5-3.
The tactical execution from Game 1 tells us exactly what kind of series this is going to be. The Cavs tallied 50 three-point attempts in the opener, the Knicks aggressively scored 60 points in the paint, and both teams combined for 55 free throws.
These two rosters are simply too good offensively, and frankly, not disciplined enough defensively to avoid consistent fouling. Both schemes are also highly likely to continue giving up premium three-point looks.
I think the over will remain a strong play throughout this series. The Cavs can clearly still score. Although, if Mitchell is out or severely limited, that’s a risk we’ll have to take. Harden is likely to put together a better performance before disappointing again. I’ll play the over in Game 2.
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 15.5 Rebounds & Assists (-125)
Despite Jalen Brunson’s late-game heroics stealing the headlines, Karl-Anthony Towns quietly put together a massive performance, finishing Game 1 with 13 rebounds and five assists.
Mitchell Robinson played his usual allotment of minutes off the bench and grabbed six boards of his own, but KAT definitively showed that he’s ready to battle and beat the Cavs’ double-big lineup on the glass.
With the Knicks consistently utilizing him as an interior hub, Towns will maintain plenty of playmaking opportunities to clear this 15.5 threshold.
Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 Points (-110)
Mikal Bridges absolutely shines in this specific matchup. I was on him in Game 1 for over 12.5 points, and the market has only moved us up a single point for Game 2.
He effortlessly finds his comfort zones when facing this Cleveland defense. Since we know the Cavs are stubbornly going to keep guarding him with Merrill, Bridges is going to turn on the burners, ready his spatula, and cook.
Sam Merrill Over 1.5 Three-Pointers Made (-175)
Merrill is Kenny Atkinson’s safety blanket. Don’t ask me why or how, but he simply feels better when Merrill is out on the floor, throwing up quick threes and getting absolutely torched on the defensive end.
Atkinson is going to have to actually play him less than 20 minutes before I ever believe it'll happen. Honestly, if the sportsbooks would let me parlay Merrill over 1.5 made three-pointers with under -4.5 plus-minus, I would play it every single time.
Matt Moore's Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 2 Best Bets
- Knicks -6.5 (-105)
- Over 216.5 (-110)
- Karl-Anthony Towns Over 15.5 Rebounds & Assists (-125)
- Mikal Bridges Over 13.5 Points (-110)
- Sam Merrill Over 1.5 Three-Pointers Made (-175)
