Do the New York Knicks, winners of 7 straight, take care of business on home court tonight against a fatigued Cleveland Cavaliers' team?
The NBA Conference Finals have started up, with the Oklahoma Thunder and San Antonio Spurs kicking things off last night, the two top seeds battling it out.
The Spurs took Game 1, 122-115, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, led by forward Victor Wembanyama, with 41 points, and an absolute beast on the boards with 24 rebounds, plus three blocked shots.
In NBA betting, at Betway, in future markets, the Thunder are still favourites to take the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, at +110, but the Spurs sit at +150 as of noon today.
Meanwhile, at Madison Square Garden tonight, the Cleveland Cavaliers, fresh off a punishing series against the Detroit Pistons, face off against the No. 3-seeded New York Knicks.
The Cavaliers, though, are not the Atlanta Hawks or Philadelphia 76ers. So if I am the Knicks, I am thinking this one might go seven games.
The Cavs can throw some bodies at Jalen Brunson, so the difference-makers will be Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, if he is healthy (Anunoby, dealing with a hamstring injury, is listed as probable to play).
The Knicks won’t have it as easy with their big men against Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley (21 points and 12 rebounds in the 125-94 Game 7 rout over the Pistons).
Donovan Mitchell has been averaging 25.6 points for the Cavs these playoffs and there’s Max Strus, another key floor spacer, both of whom can swing playoff games with their perimeter shooting.
Defensively against the Knicks the Cavaliers will have to step it up even more.
The Knicks are +500 to win the NBA championship at Betway, the Cavaliers +2000.
BEST BETS
Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, 25-16 away) at New York Knicks (53-29, 30-10 home), 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, New York.
The Knicks are big betting favourites at Betway, -250 on the Moneyline, with Cleveland +200. ATS: Knicks -6.5 (-115), Cavaliers +6.5 (-105). Over/Under is 217.5 (O -110, U -110).
Knicks ATS -6.5 (-115)
The Knicks have been dominating these playoffs – seven straight games since falling behind 2-1 to Atlanta in the first round, outscoring the Hawks and 76ers by a combined 194 points.
Now they have Anunoby back – one of the Knicks’ most important players, a top defender whose offensive game has also hit a peak during the playoffs. And they’ve had over a week to rest and recover.
The home energy at Madison Square Garden, and the Knicks defensive pressure, will wear down the Cavaliers, who just played on Sunday night.
Under 217.5 (-110)
Knicks will win, but the Cavs’ legs might not be there after a long series against the Pistons, to justify a high-scoring game tonight, anyway.
Playoffs series often start a little slower as well. Plus, both teams play tough defence. The Knicks lead the NBA in playoff points allowed – 101.0. The Cavs? 108.8 (9th in the NBA).
Knicks’ opponents have shot 31.2% from 3-point range (1st in the NBA), with opponents FG% at 44.1 (4th in the NBA), while the Cavaliers’ opponents’ 3P% is 37.3 (13th in the NBA), and they have allowed opponents a 46.1 FG% (eighth in the NBA).
Jalen Brunson 25+ Points (-200)
I think Brunson goes off tonight, so any props involving him I am leaning towards. He’s +125 at Betway to go over 30 points, and +200 to get 4+ 3-Pointers.
Brunson has been shooting the ball really well at home these playoffs and Cleveland struggle defending perimeter shooting.
