Cavaliers vs Knicks Odds, Lines & Picks (Jan. 24)

• Cleveland is laying 3-points in the Cavaliers vs Knicks odds on Tuesday at MSG
• Donovan Mitchell (groin) is probable after sitting out the last three games
• The latest available Cavaliers vs Knicks odds are below, along with injury updates and predictions

Mired in yet another losing streak, the New York Knicks return home on Tuesday to host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Knicks (25-23, 11-13 home) have dropped four straight for the second time in a month. Life won’t get any easier for them in this matchup as the Cavaliers (29-19, 9-14 away) get set to welcome back their leading scorer.

Donovan Mitchell’s pending return has online sportsbooks feeling very bullish on Cleveland in the NBA odds. The Cavaliers opened as the road chalk at Madison Square Garden, as they look for a second straight victory.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Odds

Odds as of January 23.

Cleveland is currently favored by 3-points, in a game without a total as of Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm ET inside MSG, a building where New York has underwhelmed at so far this season.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Betting Analysis

The Cavs went 1-2 without Mitchell, losing to both the Grizzlies and Warriors before knocking off the shorthanded Bucks. Mitchell suffered a groin injury in last week’s win over New Orleans, but wasn’t limited at all in Monday’s practice. He’s expected to be in the lineup versus the Knicks, a team that pursued him very aggressively in the offseason.

Cleveland ultimately won the Mitchell sweepstakes, while New York settled for Jalen Brunson. You could argue those moves couldn’t have worked out any better for either club.

Mitchell leads the Cavaliers in scoring, averaging 28.4 points per game. That ranks ninth in the NBA, and at times he’s looked like a legit NBA MVP odds candidate. Mitchell scored 71 points earlier this month, and also boasts a 46 point effort on his January resume. Cleveland has been forced to play eight games without him this season, winning just three of those contests.

#Cavs HC J.B. Bickerstaff said Donovan Mitchell was a full participant in practice today. He missed the last three games with a left groin strain.

The Cavs play the Knicks on the road tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/EhY2YGJ0gJ

— Carly Mascitti (@carlymascitti) January 23, 2023

Brunson meanwhile, enters play leading the Knicks in assists and ranking in second in scoring. He’s poured in five 32+ point efforts already this month, and is averaging 30 points a night in January. Brunson is joined by Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett to form a formidable big three on offense, but it’s the defense that’s been the root of all their latest problems.

The Knicks are yielding an average of 126 points per outing over their last four games. They rank dead last in defensive rating during that stretch, and just 13th overall in that category over the course of the season. Not exactly what you’d expect from a Tom Thibodeau team.

Knicks Advanced Stats – Last 4 Games

On the injury front, Mitchell’s return makes the Cavs completely healthy with the exception of reserve guard Dylan Windler (ankle). New York, isn’t so lucky. Starting center Mitchell Robinson broke his thumb last week and is out indefinitely.

Robinson is the team’s primary rim protector, and his absence has coincided with the Knicks surrendering 139 and 125 points over their last two outings. Elsewhere, backup guard Immanuel Quickly, New York’s best reserve, is questionable due to a knee injury.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Predictions

Robinson’s absence will be especially painful on Tuesday, as Cleveland boasts two very good big men. Twin towers Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley dominate in the paint, and Mobley is coming off a career-high 38 point performance versus the Bucks.

Evan Mobley’s last 6 games:

21.3 PPG
9.2 RPG
63% FG pic.twitter.com/YJ17NICTHv

— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) January 23, 2023

Defense meanwhile, has not been a problem for Cleveland in 2022-23, it’s been a massive strength. The Cavaliers rank second in defensive rating this season, and first in points per game. They’ve faced Knicks twice so far, holding them to an average of just 100 points per outing.

Given Mitchell’s return to health, plus New York’s injury woes and miserable recent form, the Cavaliers are the team to back on Tuesday.

Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -3 (-110)