The scenery shifts to Cleveland tonight for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Cavaliers look to solve the visiting New York Knicks. Staring down a daunting 0-2 series hole, a desperate Cleveland squad returns to its home floor fighting to breathe new life into its postseason run, while the surging Knicks aim to capture a road victory and establish a commanding 3-0 lead.
Continue below for our NBA total & prop bets for Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 3 on Saturday, May 23.
NBA Total & Prop Bets for Saturday, May 23
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 8 p.m. | |
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| 8 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Prop Bet: Sam Merrill
By Joe Dellera
Sam Merrill couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in Game 2, but the most encouraging takeaway was the sheer quality of the looks he was getting within the offense.
Targeting his straight points prop instead of made three-pointers is a sharp angle here, primarily because Merrill also has a knack for generating easy buckets through a few leak-outs or back-door cuts per game.
Like any streaky, high-volume shooter, Merrill is a player defined by high peaks and low valleys.
Coming off a quiet 4-point performance on a brutal 1-of-8 shooting night from the field (0-of-7 from deep) signals a premier buy-low window.
Prior to that Game 2 anomaly, his offensive output against New York showcased a highly productive ceiling, logging point totals of 19, 11, 0, and 12.
The Cavaliers are desperate for secondary offensive production to take the pressure off their main creators.
Expecting a natural shooting regression and an aggressive bounce-back on his home floor in Game 3 tonight.
Pick: Sam Merrill Over 8.5 Points (-105)
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers Prop Bet: James Harden
By Ameer Tyree
James Harden has flown under the radar as of late. He made some big-time plays in the second round to lift his team past the top-seeded Pistons, but hasn't been nearly as effective as a scorer or playmaker since then.
He is averaging 16.5 points and 2.5 assists while shooting 35.5% from the field in the third round. However, Harden might be in for a significant stat boost back at home on Saturday.
Harden has played his best basketball at home this postseason. He boasts a scoring average of 22.4 points at Rocket Arena during this year's playoffs and has shot 48.4% from the field and 44.2% from deep through seven games there. That's significantly better than his road scoring average (17.4 points).
Donovan Mitchell claims to be fine, but he appears to have lost a step since his Game 1 injury scare. Harden's involvement on offense will be even more crucial if Mitchell, Cleveland's leading scorer, continues to struggle finding his burst.
Harden and Mitchell are the only Cavaliers players who attempted at least 15 shots in Games 1 and 2. The focus isn't likely to shift away from them on offense in a must-win scenario.
Pick: James Harden Over 18.5 Points (-103)
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers Prop Escalator
The high-post playmaker version of Karl-Anthony Towns might be dead, but at least it has unlocked a traditional center role for him.
Towns is anchoring the low post, beautifully utilizing his size advantage, and logging massive court time—playing 38 minutes per game this round, a 10-minute jump from earlier series.
His rebounding baseline is remarkably secure, hauling in exactly 13 boards in both Game 1 and Game 2 on a massive 47 combined rebounding opportunities.
Josh Hart's explosive rebounding burst is down (4 boards on 16 chances in Game 2), and Mitchell Robinson is practically unplayable, limited to 12 minutes due to Cleveland's Hack-a-Mitch strategy.
Across five total matchups with the Cavs this year, Towns is averaging 11.6 rebounds, with individual outings of 13, 13, and 14.
We should not be getting plus-money on Towns Over 11.5 Rebounds (+105 at BetMGM). I'll also climb the escalator:
- Over 11.5 Rebounds (+105)
- 13+ Rebounds (+165). Hit in 3-of-5 games vs. Cleveland.
- 15+ Rebounds (+375). Hit 16 times in the regular season.
Pick: Karl-Anthony Towns Rebounds Escalator
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers Over/Under Bet
By Matt Moore
Since the start of the second round, the over has hit at an 18-8 clip, highlighted by a blistering 15-2 run over the last 17 games. That historical backdrop fits hand-in-glove with the venue shift, as the over has already cashed in 5 of the Cavs' 7 home playoff games this postseason.
When looking at how Game 3 unfolds, the potential script splits into two distinct paths, and both point directly to the over: either Cleveland's offense finally gets in gear on its home floor and runs up a big number while New York matches them bucket for bucket, or the Knicks demoralize the Cavs in a dominant statement game, clearing the 120-point threshold entirely on their own.
Neither team is equipped to run the other off the perimeter. Cleveland currently boasts the highest three-point attempt rate of the second round—and the fourth-highest in the entire playoffs. They might be coming off a cold stretch, but historical trends dictate that role players typically find their shooting stroke back at home.
On the other side, the Knicks are perfectly locked into their offensive rhythm. The Cavs simply don't possess the defensive teeth to make them uncomfortable, especially with Kenny Atkinson remaining stubborn about deploying multi-guard lineups, a choice that gives New York easier targets to isolate and exploit.
Pick: Over 214.5 (-110)
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