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Featured Last Updated Feb 21 2025, 4:15 PM

Knicks at Cavaliers Pick & Prediction for NBA Marquee Matchup

Derek Mountain Sports Betting Expert
8 minute read
Knicks at Cavaliers Pick & Prediction for NBA Marquee Matchup

In a potential Eastern Conference thriller, we head to Rocket Arena, where the 1-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to take on the high-flying New York Knicks.

Both are coming back from New York State last night as the Knicks squeaked past the Chicago Bulls, 113-111 in overtime, while the Cavs handled the Brooklyn Nets.

This game has plenty of implications for seeding, with the Knicks trailing the Boston Celtics by just 2.5 games for the second seed. Be sure to check this one out: game time is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST on ESPN.

Check out our in-depth preview and prediction below.

NYK @ CLE Odds

  • Full Game
  • 1H
  • 1Q
  • 2Q
  • 3Q
  • 4Q
  • Spread
  • Total
  • Moneyline
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 +4.5 -115 + +3.5 -105 + +4 -105 + +4.5 -110 + +4.5 -125 + +4.5 -110 +4.5 -115 +4.5 -115 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 -4.5 -105 + -3.5 -115 + -4 -115 + -4.5 -110 + -4.5 -105 + -4.5 -110 -4.5 -110 -4.5 -110 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 o123.5 -110 + N/A o124 -108 + o123.5 -115 + o124.5 -115 + o124 -110 o123.5 -117 o123.5 -117 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 u123.5 -110 + N/A u124 -112 + u123.5 -105 + u124.5 -115 + u124 -110 u123.5 -112 u123.5 -112 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 +180 + +180 + +185 + +185 + +160 + +168 +188 +188 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 -220 + -220 + -225 + -225 + -200 + -210 -245 -245 + -290  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 N/A N/A +3 -108 + +2.5 -120 + N/A N/A +2.5 -107 +2.5 -107 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 N/A N/A -3 -112 + -2.5 -110 + N/A N/A -2.5 -122 -2.5 -122 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 N/A N/A o118 -115 + o118.5 -110 + N/A N/A o117.5 -113 o117.5 -113 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 N/A N/A u118 -115 + u118.5 -120 + N/A N/A u117.5 -118 u117.5 -118 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 N/A N/A +150 + N/A N/A +138 +145 +145 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 N/A N/A -195 + N/A N/A -170 -186 -186 + -290  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 +3 -115 + +2.5 -110 + +2.5 -108 + +2.5 -115 + +2.5 -120 + +2.5 -106 +2.5 -118 +2.5 -118 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 -3 -105 + -2.5 -110 + -2.5 -112 + -2.5 -115 + -2.5 -115 + -2.5 -114 -2.5 -108 -2.5 -108 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 o62 -110 + N/A o61.5 -112 + o62 -115 + o62.5 -105 + o62.5 -111 o62.5 -110 o62.5 -110 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 u62 -110 + N/A u61.5 -108 + u62 -115 + u62.5 -125 + u62.5 -115 u62.5 -118 u62.5 -118 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 +175 + +160 + +154 + +165 + N/A +152 +150 +150 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 -210 + -200 + -185 + -200 + N/A -188 -195 -195 + -290  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 +2.5 -120 + N/A +1.5 -108 + +2.5 -125 + +1.5 -115 + +1.5 -104 +2.5 -121 +2.5 -121 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 -2.5 -110 + N/A -1.5 -112 + -2.5 -105 + -1.5 -120 + -1.5 -118 -2.5 -108 -2.5 -108 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 o62 -115 + N/A o61.5 -115 + o61.5 -125 + o61.5 -125 + o61.5 -113 o61.5 -109 o61.5 -109 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 u62 -115 + N/A u61.5 -115 + u61.5 -105 + u61.5 -105 + u61.5 -115 u61.5 -122 u61.5 -122 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 +145 + N/A +124 + N/A N/A +128 +145 +145 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 -180 + N/A -160 + N/A N/A -158 -186 -186 + -290  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 +2.5 -120 + N/A +2 -108 + +1.5 -105 + +1.5 -110 + +1.5 -105 +1.5 -107 +1.5 -107 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 -2.5 -110 + N/A -2 -112 + -1.5 -125 + -1.5 -125 + -1.5 -115 -1.5 -122 -1.5 -122 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 o60.5 -115 + N/A o60.5 -120 + N/A o59.5 -125 + o60.5 -106 o59.5 -121 o59.5 -121 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 u60.5 -115 + N/A u60.5 -110 + N/A u59.5 -105 + u60.5 -120 u59.5 -110 u59.5 -110 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 +145 + N/A +135 + N/A N/A +122 +132 +132 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 -180 + N/A -175 + N/A N/A -150 -167 -167 + -290  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+6.5 -108 +1.5 -115 + N/A +1 -108 + +1.5 -130 + +0.5 -110 + +1.5 -120 +1.5 -121 +1.5 -121 + +7.5 -108  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-6.5 -112 -1.5 -115 + N/A -1 -112 + -1.5 even + -0.5 -125 + -1.5 -102 -1.5 -108 -1.5 -108 + -7.5 -112  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
o240 -110 o56.5 -115 + N/A o56.5 -125 + N/A N/A o56.5 -122 o57.5 -113 o57.5 -113 + o241.5 -110  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
u240 -110 u56.5 -115 + N/A u56.5 -105 + N/A N/A u56.5 -104 u57.5 -118 u57.5 -118 + u241.5 -110  
New York Knicks 505 Knicks
+215 +120 + N/A +120 + N/A +105 + +112 +116 +116 + +235  
Cleveland Cavaliers 506 Cavaliers
-265 -150 + N/A -154 + N/A -135 + -140 -148 -148 + -290  

According to bet365 Sportsbook, the Cavs (+800) and Knicks (+1100) have the third and fourth-best odds, respectively, to win the 2025 NBA Championship.

This will be the second of four matchups between the two. In the first matchup, Cleveland outlasted the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, 110-104, and All-Star guard Darius Garland scored 34 points.

Both teams come into this one relatively healthy, but make sure to check do-it-all guard Josh Hart’s status as he missed last night’s contest, as well as OG Anunoby, who is recovering from a knee sprain.

This game is stockpiled with plenty of backcourt firepower with the likes of Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Brunson. But don’t sleep on the battle down low between Cleveland’s fierce frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen trying to contain Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s proven to be one of the league’s best acquisitions of the 2024-25 season.

In years past, the Cavs and Knicks were known as some of the league’s best defensive teams. But since the Knicks’ roster turnover and the arrival of new Coach of the Year frontrunner Kenny Atkinson, these teams have seemingly changed their identities as Cleveland and New York are the top two teams in the NBA in offensive rating.

NBA fans should be tuning into this one, as it has game-of-the-year potential. We’re going with the Knicks on the spread in this one. Although a lot of their key players logged 40+ minutes the night before in an overtime win, it’s nothing these guys aren’t used to under coach Tom Thibodeau. With potentially Hart and Anunoby back in the fold, 8.5 is too many - lay it with the Knicks.

For more insights, check out Action PRO, and before you wager, check out our bet365 bonus code for a great offer.

PICK: KNICKS +8.5

Updated on 2/21/25

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Derek Mountain

Derek Mountain works in the Boston area as an SEO Performance Associate for Better Collective. Derek is a recent graduate of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA where he played football for five years as well as walking on the basketball team his freshman year. Derek has experience writing and editing casino content for nearly four years. More from Derek Mountain
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