Knicks vs. Cavaliers prediction: NBA odds, picks, best bets for Monday

There was immoderate interest pursuing nan Knicks’ 132-109 blowout loss successful their play opener to nan Celtics.

However, they put immoderate of those questions to furniture pinch an impressive 123-98 location triumph complete nan Pacers.

Even successful their nonaccomplishment to Boston, nan Knicks still changeable 55 percent from nan floor. They conscionable couldn’t flooded a 44-point shortage from down nan 3-point line.

Considering nan Knicks person changeable astatine slightest 50 percent from nan level successful some games, there’s logic to beryllium optimistic erstwhile they big nan undefeated Cavaliers connected Monday night.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds

Cavaliers outlook 

Despite their 3-0 start, it’s still excessively early to beryllium overly bullish astir nan Cavaliers. 

After all, they won those games against nan Raptors, Pistons and Wizards, 3 teams projected to triumph nether 30 games this season.

The roster is fundamentally nan aforesaid arsenic it was a twelvemonth ago. Cleveland’s offseason privilege was to support its halfway intact by handing retired statement extensions to Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and re-signing Isaac Okoro connected a three-year deal.

There is simply a different sound connected nan sidelines pinch Kenny Atkinson taking complete for J.B. Bickerstaff. Cleveland fired Bickerstaff pursuing its nonaccomplishment to Boston successful nan Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Given Boston’s dominance, it’s difficult to deliberation that Bickerstaff was nan biggest hindrance to nan Cavaliers’ playoff aspirations.

While Cleveland continues to create its younger players, nan existent mobility is whether Atkinson will beryllium capable to compensate for their determination not to onshore different seasoned scorer successful nan free-agent market.

Knicks outlook

Friday’s triumph complete nan Pacers showed conscionable really potent this Knicks discourtesy tin be, arsenic 4 of their 5 starters vanished pinch 20 aliases much points. By spreading nan shot around, nan Knicks tin trust little connected constituent defender Jalen Brunson.

While nan discourtesy will undoubtedly pull plentifulness of attraction pursuing nan waste and acquisition for Karl-Anthony Towns, maintaining past season’s protect integrity mightiness lead to moreover greater success.

Karl-Anthony Towns was 1 of 4 Knicks starters to eclipse 20 points against nan Pacers. Getty Images

Thus, keeping a Pacers squad that led nan NBA successful scoring past play to nether 100 points was a measurement successful nan correct direction.

The Knicks will invited their adjacent situation against a Cleveland squad that leads nan convention successful scoring (128 points per game) and section extremity percent (54.5%). 

It’ll beryllium difficult for nan Cavaliers to support specified a precocious level erstwhile they look nan amended teams astir nan NBA.

The Knicks and Cavaliers play successful a akin style regarding their tempo, and erstwhile nan crippled slows down, we’re apt to spot a diminution successful Cleveland’s violative production.

Pacers vs. Knicks pick

This is simply a classical spot wherever you want to waste precocious connected nan Cavaliers pursuing their accelerated commencement against teams that will decorativeness adjacent nan bottommost of nan Eastern Conference.

There’s besides a beardown relationship pinch nan Knicks being amended suited successful this conflict betwixt teams that for illustration to play astatine a slower pace. 

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The full is 9-1 to nan nether successful their past 10 meetings, pinch nan Knicks some 8-2 consecutive up and against nan spread.

This matchup will beryllium overmuch much difficult for nan Cavaliers, and I expect them to struggle now that they person to measurement up successful people against a amended opponent.

Best bet: Knicks -2.5 (-110, bet365)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Arinze handicaps astir awesome sports for nan New York Post. He’s cashed 2 15-leg teasers successful his betting profession arsenic good arsenic a 12-leg parlay that included 8 Little League World Series games. More recently, he accurately picked finalists successful nan 2024 European Championships and Copa America.