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If any team is going to knock off the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference, it will almost certainly be either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the New York Knicks. Cleveland has been the best team in the East through the first two-thirds of the season, entering the All-Star Break with a 44-10 record. Meanwhile, the Knicks are currently 36-18 and probably needed the week off more than any other team. Tom Thibodeau is infamous for running his starters into the ground, so it will be good for his guys to recharge their batteries.
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These two teams have only met once so far this year. That game resulted in a 110-104 victory for Cleveland in Madison Square Garden. Darius Garland was fantastic in the win with 34 points, while Jarrett Allen posted 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jalen Brunson was the leading scorer for the Knicks with 21 points, but he went just 8 of 24 from the field and missed each of his three-point attempts.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks SGP
No one expected Cleveland to be this good, but Kenny Atkinson has been great in his first year on the sidelines for the Cavaliers. The Cavs have the third-lowest odds to make the NBA Finals behind Boston and Oklahoma City, and they have a 5.5 game lead over Boston for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland have teamed up to be arguably the best guard tandem in the NBA. Mitchell leads Cleveland with 23.9 PPG and is averaging 4.8 APG, while Garland is averaging 21.6 while leading the team with 6.7 APG. Garland has been a very effective scorer too, knocking down 49.8% of his field goals, 43.1% of his threes, and 87.5% of his free throws.
Cleveland’s front court can get it done too and added depth at the deadline with De’Andre Hunter. Evan Mobley is averaging 18.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG while making an impressive 56.9% of his field goals, and he can hit threes when needed too. Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen is a dominant force in the paint and is averaging 13.6 PPG and 10.3 RPG while making 70% of his field goals.
New York’s starting five have all started at least 49 games this season. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are currently the only two players in the league that have played at least 2000 minutes, while Jalen Brunson ranks 6th in minutes played, OG Anunoby ranks 18th in minutes played, and Karl-Anthony Towns ranks 32nd in minutes played. That is concerning considering how we saw the Knicks wear down in the playoffs last season.
It has been impressive to watch Jalen Brunson develop into a true star. Brunson played second fiddle to Luka Doncic in Dallas, but he has been the leader for the Knicks since signing a four-year deal worth $104 million in June 2022. Brunson is averaging 26.1 PPG and 7.5 APG while hitting 49.2% of his field goals and 39.7% of his threes.
The decision to trade for Karl-Anthony Towns has paid off in a big way too. Towns has been phenomenal in averaging 24.7 PPG and 13.4 RPG, ranking second in the league in rebounds. Additionally, he is incredibly efficient from the field, hitting 53.4% of his field goals and 43.8% of his threes.
Every starter for the Knicks is making at least 48.2% of their field goals. However, the perimeter shooting is pretty mediocre aside from Brunson and Towns. No other rotation player is making more than 37.6% of their threes, and that could come back to fight the Knicks in the postseason.
Cleveland will certainly be favored by the NBA betting odds here, but I’m going to back the New York Knicks on the road. The Knicks have something to prove to show they are a real contender in the East, and they will be very well rested. I see Towns having a great game too after finishing before the All-Star Break with consecutive 40-point performances against Atlanta and Indiana.
KARL ANTHONY TOWNS OVER POINT TOTAL
NEW YORK KNICKS TO WIN OUTRIGHT
