Knicks vs. Cavaliers prediction, odds, line, time: 2023 NBA playoff picks, Game 3 bets by model on 71-37 run

The New York Knicks will look to extend their season-long edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers when they meet in Game 3 of their 2023 NBA playoff first-round series on Friday. The Knicks (47-35), who won three of the four regular-season meetings, including both in New York, are 32-20 against teams from the East this year. The Cavaliers (51-31) have played well in New York, and have won 12 of their last 16 games there since the 2014-2015 season. Cleveland is 34-18 against Eastern Conference opponents in 2022-2023.

The game from Madison Square Garden in New York will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks had the league’s 11th-best scoring offense at 116 points per game, while the Cavaliers were 25th-best at 112.3. New York is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 211. Before making any Knicks vs. Cavaliers picks, be sure to check out the NBA playoff predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 71-37 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cavs vs. Knicks and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the NBA lines and trends for Knicks vs. Cavs: 

• Cavaliers vs. Knicks spread: Knicks -1.5 
• Cavaliers vs. Knicks over/under: 211 points 
• Cavaliers vs. Knicks money line: Cavaliers +110, Knicks -130
• CLE: The Cavaliers are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six road games 
• NYK: The Knicks are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four Friday games 
• Cavaliers vs. Knicks picks: See picks at SportsLine

Featured Game | New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Why the Knicks can cover 

Shooting guard Josh Hart was a big reason New York was able to steal the home-court advantage away from Cleveland in Game 1. He registered a double-double off the bench with 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was his 11th double-double of the year and second in a row after scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 141-136 loss to Indiana in the regular-season finale. In two postseason games, he is averaging 11 points and seven rebounds.

Small forward RJ Barrett is coming off a 14-point and three-rebound performance in Game 2. For the season, he was one of the Knicks’ top scorers, averaging 19.6 points, five rebounds and 2.8 assists in 73 games. He also was a thorn in the Cavs’ side during the regular season, averaging 15 points, six rebounds and 1.3 assists. During his four-year career, Barrett is averaging 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists, connecting on 42.2% of his field goals and 70.9% of his free throws. See which team to pick here.

Why the Cavaliers can cover

Despite that, New York isn’t a lock to cover the Cavaliers vs. Knicks spread. That’s because Cleveland has been on a roll, winning seven of its past 10 games. Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell continues to be red hot. He scored 38 points and dished out eight assists in the opening game loss, while posting a double-double in Game 2 with 17 points and 13 assists. Entering the series, Mitchell posted four 40-plus games in a row, including a 44-point performance in a 120-118 loss at Atlanta on March 28. For the season, he averaged 28.3 points, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 35.8 minutes per game.

Point guard Darius Garland is also having a big series, averaging 24.5 points, four assists and two steals. He poured in 32 points and had seven assists in Cleveland’s Game 2 victory. During the regular season, Garland averaged 21.6 points, 7.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. In three regular season matchups with New York, he averaged 19.7 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal. See which team to pick here.

How to make Cavaliers vs. Knicks picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 220 combined points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50% of simulations. You can only get the model’s pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Cavaliers vs. Knicks? And which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Knicks vs. Cavs spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is 71-37 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.