Cavaliers vs Knicks Picks, Predictions & Player Props to Target for Game 3
- The New York Knicks are -130 favorites in Game 3 of their Opening Round series vs the Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cleveland evened the series with a 107-90 blowout win in Game 2
- Check out the latest Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 3 picks, plus injury news, betting splits and prop bets to target
Bright lights. Big city. High-stakes game.
After getting a split in Cleveland, the New York Knicks try to get a leg up at home when they host the Cavaliers for a pivotal Game 3.
The numbers don’t lie: teams that win Game 3 of a 1-1 best-of-seven series go on to win the series 73.3% of the time (162-59).
It all gets underway Friday (April 21) at 8:30pm ET from Madison Square Garden in NYC. You can watch the game live on ABC.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Game 3 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +2 (-110) | +110 | O 211.5 (-110) |
| New York Knicks | -2 (-110) | -130 | U 211.5 (-110) |
The NBA odds have the hometown Knicks as a 2-point favorite, and -130 on the moneyline, an implied win probability of 56.52%. The total has been set at 211.5 points, a fitting number in this rock fight.
New York is the 2nd-lowest scoring team in the playoffs so far, putting up just 95.5 points per game. Cleveland isn’t faring much better, ranking 13th in the 16-team field at 102 points per contest.
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Odds as of April 21 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
New York Betting Analysis
After a gritty 101-97 win to open the series, the Knicks literally gave away Game 2 in a 107-90 drubbing.
New York coughed the ball up 14 times in the first half, and Cleveland made hay, turning those in to 27 points, including 19 in the second quarter, when the Cavaliers pushed their lead to 20.
Julius Randle had 22 points and eight rebounds, but had an ugly six turnovers on the scoresheet. Jalen Brunson dropped 20, but shot just 5-for-17 from the field, including a rough 1-for-8 mark from three-point range. He added five boards, six assists and four steals.
It was a rough one for RJ Barrett too, shooting 4-for-13 from the field for 14 points and three rebounds.
New York could really use one of their wings to support Randle and Brunson, and maybe the scene shift will help. Immanuel Quickly, Barrett and Quentin Grimes have combined to shooting 11-for-44 from the field (25%), including a dismal 3-for-20 from distance, a 15% clip.
Cleveland Betting Analysis
After an uneven postseason debut, Darius Garland uncorked a beauty in Game 2, dropping a game-high 32 points, three rebounds and seven dimes, including a crisp 6-for-10 mark from downtown.
Donovan Mitchell went for 17 points and playoff career-high 13 assists, while their frontcourt was active all night. Jarrett Allen had nine points, 10 boards, three assists, three steals and three blocks, while Evan Mobley had 13 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Darius Garland (32 PTS, 7 AST, 6-10 3PM) was on fire in Game 2 as Cleveland secured the win!
The Cavaliers will be in New York for Game 3 with the series evened up at 1-1 🍿
CLE/NYK Game 3 ➡ Friday, 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/7y7eMax20T
— NBA (@NBA) April 19, 2023
One significant lineup change was starter Isaac Okoro playing only three minutes, with Caris LeVert putting up a team-high 40 minutes off the bench. He had 24 points, four rebounds and three assists.
The top scoring defense in the regular season, the Cavs are one of three teams holding the opposition to under 97 points per game in the playoffs. They’re also holding the Knicks to a playoff-worst 25% from three-point range and 39.5% from the field.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Prop Bets & Predictions
Does Mitchell shine or shake under the Broadway lights? After very closely becoming a Knick in the offseason, it’s definitely something worth documenting.
In the regular season, he averaged 31.8 points across four games against the Knicks. However, at MSG, Mitchell’s average dropped to 23.5 points on a rough 17-for-46 shooting, a 37% clip. Cleveland lost both games. With Garland’s offense emerging, we’re picking him to go under 29.5 points in Game 3 at -115 odds.
Why does Thibs have Julius Randle in the game !? pic.twitter.com/oXapMk0TyM
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 19, 2023
For New York, Randle should be motivated, especially after getting fouled hard late in the fourth by Allen on a fast-break dunk attempt.
He’s worked the glass well over the Cavaliers this season, having crossed this 8.5 rebound total in all three regular season games, and four of five including the playoffs, missing by one board in Game 2.
We’ll definitely take the plus-odds in what should be a very stellar performance in Game 3.
Looking for a game pick? Target the total. The under has hit in four of the last five head-to-heads. Also, it’s a generous 211.5 points, considering these teams have yet to cross 200 points in a game this series.
Pick: Julius Randle OVER 8.5 Rebounds (+100)
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Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
