Two nights of the 2025-26 NBA NBA season feature a major league conference show on ESPN between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. Both groups have legitimate aspirations.
Let’s get into my pit of vs. Mr.
Cleveland Cavaloers vs New York Knick Adds
Money Line: Cavaliers -112 / Knicks -104
Spread: Cavaliers -1.5 (-102) / Knicks +1.5 (-118)
Total: Over 227.5 (-110) / Under 227.5 (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks Best Bet #1: Cavaloers -1.5 (-102)
Cleveland is favored to win the East this season, and why not? The Cavaliers compiled a 64-18 regular season record in 2024-25 before being hit hard by injuries in the playoffs. Now it’s down to some of the top teams in the Eastern Conference dealing with the injury bug, and the Cavs are very healthy. Darius Garland is out with a toe problem, but Cleveland is good to go. Head coach Kenny Atkinson brings back a combined program that includes Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and De’ANDre Hunter. Cleveland should be excellent on both ends of the floor and effective in both the frontcourt and backcourt. Weaknesses are few and far between.
The Knicks are one of those teams that got in. Josh Hart (back) and Mitchell Robinson (not shown) were made for the winners on Wednesday. Karl-Anthony Towns (Quadriceps) and Og Anunoby (Ankle) are day-to-day. It must also be said that new Head Coach Mike Brown does not inspire much confidence. Although New York was strong at home last time out (27-14), the Cavaliers were impressive on the road (30-11). In addition, Cleveland was perfect in the 2024-25 head-to-head series, including 2-0 at Madison Square Garden. The Cavs won those four meetings by a combined 68 points.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks Best Player Bet: Jarrett Allen over 12.5 points (-108)
With Robinson and Hart not playing with towns or outsiders or at least less than 100 percent, the Knicks are greatly diminished down the stretch. That means Allen will have a field day in the paint. Garland is classified as appropriate and leads to a heavy load of Texas Product.
Allen was good against New York last season, averaging 14.3 points per game. In one game at Madison Square Garden, he recorded 13.0 PPG and 14.0 RPG.
