Knicks vs Cavaliers Odds Preview: Is New York Being Overlooked?
NBA Playoffs Odds Heavily Lean on a Cavaliers Series Victory

New York Expected to Have Another Short Playoff Run
The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks were the first teams to be locked into a playoff series as the fourth and fifth seeds of the East. The Knicks vs Cavaliers odds favor Cleveland to win the series at -200 currently though this opened a bit wider for Cleveland. Money is coming in on New York as one of the NBA’s most popular franchises. But if the odds prove accurate, it will be another short and disappointing postseason for the Knickerbockers.
Cleveland in 5? Series Will be Tougher Than the Props Indicate
As the Knicks vs Cavaliers odds have it, Cleveland’s implied probability of winning is around 63 percent. That’s nearly two out of three times. And if the series props are explored further, the books are spotting +1.5 on the Knicks to make this a seven-game series (-145). That means the Cavaliers will get it done in seven games (+350).
The series is expected to last six or seven games at +200 apiece on the sportsbook props. But Cleveland to win in five (4-1) is at +375, which is the next-shortest line on the props. A Knicks upset in six games is +450 and in seven is +550. But the last time New York was in the playoffs, the team only lasted five games at the hands of the Hawks. But this feels like a long time ago.
New York now has Jalen Brunson who has blossomed into a superstar at the point guard position. Brunson averaged 24 points and 6.2 assists on 49.1 percent shooting in 68 games for the Knicks. He’s a big reason why New York exceeded its NBA season odds winning 47 games from its expected regular-season win total of 38.5.
Brunson also put up big numbers against Cleveland: 25.3 points on 47.5 percent shooting (45.5 percent from 3) in four games. However, he only averaged a -1.1 plus/minus. In his last game against Cleveland, he dropped 48 points and nine assists on 18-of-32 shooting. New York won by 14 in Cleveland.
While this is impressive considering Cleveland’s top-ranked defense (109.9), the team was without star center Jarrett Allen. The big man missed two games against New York. Without him, the Cavs’ rebounding deteriorates as well as their defense. It’s a different ball game when he plays: Cleveland went 1-1 against the Knicks.
Still, the Knicks’ success against Cleveland shows this team has a solid chance here. Factor in Tom Thibodeau’s playoff experience over J.B. Bickerstaff’s and the Knicks could do damage on the NBA point spread.
Game 1 Winners Usually Win, But…
This brings us to their first game on Saturday, which usually proves to be a pivotal one. The Knicks vs Cavaliers odds favor Cleveland by six points over New York in this game. That’s -240 on the moneyline or a 67.9 percent chance of winning. If Cleveland does indeed take Game 1, they will increase their odds to win the series by a lot. In NBA history, teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven series win the series 75.1 percent of the time (442-146).
That’s why the favored Game 1/series outcome combo prop has Cleveland winning Game 1 and the series at -110. The least likely outcome of the four is for the Knicks to win Game 1 but Cleveland still wins the series at +475. If the Knicks win Game 1 and the series, the prop pays at +350.
Last playoffs, six of the eight teams that won Game 1 of the first round won the series. Utah and Minnesota were the only two teams that failed to do so. That’s 75 percent of Game 1 winners as the historical odds have it.
In the Knicks’ playoff series against Atlanta in 2021, the Hawks won Game 1 in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won Game 2 to tie the series only to lose the next three games and get eliminated. Trae Young owned the Knicks. Now, Donovan Mitchell, who the Knicks courted in the offseason, could be the thorn in the franchise’s side.
For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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