The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks will square off in this year’s Eastern Conference finals. Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
New York is a 7.5-point favorite, searching for its first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.
Get my Cavaliers vs. Knicks prediction based on the latest NBA odds ahead of Game 1:
Cavaliers vs. Knicks Prediction: Tuesday, May 19
- Knicks over 54.5 first-half points (-110)
I like the over on New York’s first-half team total (54.5) for my Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 1 prediction.
This is an ideal spot to back the Knicks, who have had more than a week off since sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 2. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, punched their ticket to the ECF with a win in Sunday’s Game 7 in Detroit.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Cavs came out flat on Tuesday, while the Knicks got off to a fast start with fresher legs.
So far this postseason, New York leads all teams with an average of 64.9 points per game in the first half. The Knicks have scored at least 55 first-half points in nine of their 10 matchups during this playoff run.
During the regular season, New York averaged 58.8 points in the first half.
Another reason I like the idea of backing the Knicks’ offense in this series is that the Cavaliers have defensive limitations. Cleveland ranked 15th in defensive rating during the regular season and has been eighth out of 16 teams in the playoffs.
This series figures to be more of an offensive battle, but I’ll back New York to set the tone in the first half of Game 1.
Prediction: Knicks over 54.5 first-half points (-110)
Cavaliers vs. Knicks Odds for Game 1
- Cavaliers spread: +7.5
- Knicks spread: -7.5
- Total: 217.5
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