Cleveland Cavaliers (52-33) vs. New York Knicks (49-36)
April 23, 2023 1:00 pm EDT
The Line: New York Knicks -2.5; Over/Under: +206.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks meet Sunday in Game 4 of the NBA East First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are averaging 94.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting and allowing 96.7 points on 42 percent shooting. Donovan Mitchell is averaging 25.7 points and 8.7 assists, while Darius Garland is averaging 19.7 points and 3.7 assists. Caris LeVert is the third double-digit scorer and Evan Mobley is grabbing 11.3 rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers are shooting 32 percent from beyond the arc and 71.2 percent from the free throw line. The Cleveland Cavaliers are allowing 27.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41 rebounds per game.
The New York Knicks are averaging 96.7 points on 42 percent shooting and allowing 94.3 points on 43.8 percent shooting. Jalen Brunson is averaging 22.7 points and 3.7 rebounds, while Julius Randle is averaging 17.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. RJ Barrett is the third double-digit scorer and Josh Hart is grabbing 6.7 rebounds. The New York Knicks are shooting 27.5 percent from beyond the arc and 78.6 percent from the free throw line. The New York Knicks are allowing 32 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44 rebounds per game.
The Cavaliers are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 Sunday games and 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Knicks are 9-4-1 ATS in their last 14 home games and 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 1 days rest. The under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 overall. The under is 4-1 in Knicks last 5 overall. The Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New York and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
Again, you can argue the Cleveland Cavaliers are the better team from a talent standpoint, but the Knicks just have that grit you need this time of year and their will to win and scrappiness is where I lean. It just feels like the Knicks want it more, and it doesn’t hurt to have that MSG crowd behind them. This has been an ugly, low scoring series, and that favors the Knicks. I’ll lay the bucket with the home team.
