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Predictions, Expert Picks & Splits for Knicks vs Cavs (Game 4)

Chris Amberley

By Chris Amberley in NBA Basketball

Published:


Jalen Brunson drives and draws contact from James Harden in the Eastern Conference Finals.
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) in the third quarter during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
  • The Knicks are 2-point favorites tonight in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final versus the Cavs
  • New York has covered in five straight road games during the playoffs
  • Get the top predictions, expert picks and splits for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4, below

Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final goes down tonight, as the Cavs host the Knicks looking to stave off elimination. The Knicks are fresh off a 121-108 road victory in Game 3, and online sportsbooks are expecting a sweep, pegging New York as short favorites in the NBA odds. Tip-off is set for 8:00 PM ET at Rocket Arena, and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

This high-stakes matchup pits the Cavaliers’ elite core of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden against the Knicks’ dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks have firmly dictated the flow through the first three games, which is why they’re in position to punch an NBA Finals ticket.

Will the Cavaliers bounce back as home underdogs, or will the Knicks keep their offensive engine humming away from Madison Square Garden? Keep reading for the top predictions, expert picks and splits for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4, below.

Predictions for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4

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My top two bets tonight are the Knicks -2 and Over 218.5. New York is a flawless 5-0 against the spread on the road over their last five games. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have completely fallen off a cliff against this opponent, going just 1-5 straight up against the Knicks over their last six meetings. The Cavaliers have a resilient 15-5 record after a loss recently, but the Knicks’ dominance away from home is simply too significant to ignore.

Moving to the total, all signs point to an absolute shootout. The over has hit in three of the Knicks’ last four road games, an impressive 75% hit rate. The Cavaliers match this high-scoring frequency in bounce-back spots, with the over cashing in three of their last four games following a loss.

Knicks vs Cavs Postseason Stats

StatisticKnicksCavaliers
Points Per Game119.2 (2nd)108.8 (5th)
Opponent Points Per Game101.2 (T-1st)109.9 (9th)
Offensive Rating120.7 (2nd)109.7 (5th)
Defensive Rating102.6 (1st)109.7 (8th)
Field Goal %51.7% (1st)45.9% (6th)
Opponent FG%43.9% (T-3rd)47.0% (11th)
3-Point Attempts Per Game32.1 (12th)38.0 (3rd)
3-Point %39.6% (1st)33.1% (11th)
Opponent 3P%30.7% (1st)37.0% (11th)
Assist to Turnover Ratio1.9 (4th)1.3 (15th)
Total Rebound %55.1% (1st)50.4% (6th)
Second Chance Points16.5 (T-2nd)14.8 (9th)
Pace95.3 (8th)94.9 (10th)

Per the numbers in the NBA starting lineups, this Eastern Conference Final is a glaring mismatch. The Knicks pair the playoffs’ top-ranked Defensive Rating (102.6) with a hyper-efficient offense that ranks second overall (120.7). The Cavaliers boast a perfectly symmetrical but thoroughly mediocre 109.7 rating on both sides of the ball.

The most exploitable mismatches exist on the perimeter. The Knicks shoot a staggering 51.7% from the floor and an elite 39.6% from deep. The Cavaliers’ defense has been extremely vulnerable to the three, allowing opponents to shoot 37.0%.

Furthermore, the Knicks grab 55.1% of available rebounds and secure 16.5 second-chance points per game. Paired with a pristine 1.9 assist-to-turnover ratio, they are minimizing mistakes while punishing the Cavaliers’ sloppy 1.3 ratio. New York’s championship price is down to +260 in the NBA Championship odds, and that number will be even shorter tonight if they close out Cleveland.

Expert Picks for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4

  • Jalen Brunson OVER 25.5 Points (-108 at DraftKings)
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Given my projection for a high-scoring victory, attacking the Knicks’ primary scorer offers phenomenal value. Jalen Brunson lit the lamp for 30 points in Game 3. Taking the over on his point total aligns perfectly with my overarching game script of the Knicks thriving offensively on the road against a defense that cannot contain the perimeter. Brunson has cleared 25.5 points in six of his last nine games, making him a buy per our NBA player prop analyzer.

Odds for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4

Odds as of May 25. Claim the Bet365 promo code to bet on the NBA Playoffs.

Splits for Knicks vs Cavs Game 4

As for the NBA public betting splits, casual and sharp money are marching in lockstep for Game 4. In the spread market, financial backing for the Knicks is overwhelming. They command a massive 84.2% of the overall handle alongside 73.5% of the ticket count.

The most universally agreed-upon angle is the total. An astronomical 94.3% of the handle is heavily invested in the OVER, accompanied by 88.7% of the tickets. The UNDER is a complete afterthought. The market is entirely on board with an offensive track meet, validating my prediction.

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Chris Amberley
Chris Amberley

Sports Writer

As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.

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