Today, the New York Knicks take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Preview, odds, picks, predictions, and injuries for the Knicks vs. Cavaliers contest here. Sportsbooks show the Cavs as a five-point favorite at home. Cleveland is home 31-10, while New York is 24-17. BetOnline odds below.
Preview Knicks vs. Cavaliers | 2023 NBA Playoffs
- 🏀 difference: New York Knicks | Cleveland Cavaliers
- 📊 register: Knicks (47-35, 45-34-3 ATS) | Cavaliers (51-31, 42-36-4 ATS)
- 📅 date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
- 🕛 time: 6 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV channels: ESPN
- 🏟 place: mortgage field rocket; Cleveland, Ohio
- 🎲 NBA Prospect: Nix +5 (-105) | Cavaliers -5 (-115)
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Odds | NBA Playoffs First Round Game 1
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Knicks vs. Cavaliers Predictions | 2023 NBA Playoff Game 1
On Saturday, the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers will play the No. 5 seed New York Knicks at 6 p.m. EST. The winner of this seven-game series will advance to the second round. Both teams are neck and neck in the consensus spread point. Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell prepares for his first playoff game with his new team.
Today’s game will be Mitchell’s 40th, as the guard averaged a regular season-best 28.3 points. Earlier this week at practice, the four-time All-Star left a message for his teammates. “There’s a beauty in not knowing what else is to come,” he said.
“Because at the end of the day when you don’t fully understand the magnitude of the moment and get out there and play freely, there’s beauty in that, too.”
Plus, Jalen Bruson and the Knicks are eager to win their first playoff series together. Brunson scored a career-high 48 points against Cleveland last month. “If you pay attention, whenever there were people in Dallas throughout his career, he always played well when he was starting,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“So, just being around him and watching what he did in high school, in the state championships and what he did at Villanova in the big games, he always played his best in the big games.”
According to ESPN’s Basketball Strength Index, the Cavaliers have a 61.1% chance of winning at home. Even so, New York is still a great road team. Of the four road teams this weekend, the Knicks have the second-best odds after the Golden State Warriors pulling off an upset.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Injuries | NBA injury report
New York Knicks injury report
PF Julius Randle (The Ankle; Doubtful) | PG Jalen Brunson (hand, potential)
Cleveland cavaliers injury report
SF Dyland Windler (feet; lowered outward) | SF Isaac Okoro (knee, questionable)
Betting Trends Knicks vs. Cavaliers | 2023 NBA Playoffs picks
- New York is 5-5 in its last 10 games.
- The Knicks are also 9-4 ATS in their past 13 meetings versus Cleveland.
- Additionally, the Knicks have been 4-1 in their previous five matchups against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 12-5 in their last 17 games.
- Cleveland is 6-2-1 ATS in the last nine games played on Saturday.
- Point totals have dropped in four of Cleveland’s previous five home games.
New York Knicks predicted lineup
Galen Bronson | SG Emmanuel Kwikli | BF Julius Randle | SF Obi Tobin | C. Mitchell Robinson
Cleveland Cavaliers Predicted Starting Lineup
BJ Darius Garland | SJ Donovan Mitchell | BF Evan Mobley | SF Isaac Okoro | Jarrett Allen
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Becks | 2023 NBA Playoffs First Round
Furthermore, for other betting stats, New York is 20-21 as an underdog, 19-20-2 over/under, and 26-14-1 ATS away. Cleveland is 47-17 as a favorite, 19-22 over/under at home, and 23-16-2 ATS at home. The Cavaliers have been 6-14 in their last 20 games in the month of April.
Not to mention, the Knicks have won their last three head-to-head competitions. New York went 3-1 against the Cavaliers in the regular season series. However, playoffs are a different ball game. Our Betting Experts Predict Cleveland Win Game 1, Knicks Cover Spread, Total Points To Achieve more 217.
Choose Cavaliers to win! New York lost consecutive games to end its regular season. It may take a while for the Knicks to play at the same level again. If you are new to sports betting, check out our handicap betting guide. More NBA picks and predictions on the homepage.