🏀 Cavaliers vs. Knicks Player Props Today: NBA Playoffs Best Bets & Picks for Game 1
📡 SBR Edge: Back KAT to Record 5+ Assists
My Cavaliers vs. Knicks player props for Game 1 today feature Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists (-125). He averaged 7.8 potential assists per game in the conference semifinals. My second NBA best bet is James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made (+108), as he has attempted seven or more 3-pointers in four of his last five games.
🏀 Best Cavaliers vs. Knicks player props: NBA Playoffs Game 1
See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.
| 💰 Pick | 💡 Best odds | ⚖️ Bet size | 🧠 Why I'm making this bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists | -125 via FanDuel | 1.25u -> 1u | Averaged 7.8 potential assists per game in conference semis |
| James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made | +108 via FanDuel | 0.93u -> 1u | Had 7+ 3PA in 4 of his last 5 games |
Total wagered: 2.18 units | Max profit: 2 units
💰 Best Cavaliers vs. Knicks prop bet
The Knicks have the third-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals.
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 4.5 assists (-125)
I'm surprised the market is so slow to embrace Towns' new role.
After losing back-to-back games in the first round, the Knicks have run the offense through Towns, which led to him averaging 7.8 potential assists per game against the 76ers. He has cleared this number in seven straight games, including a 10-assist performance against Philadelphia in Game 4.
The market is still too heavily anchored to Towns averaging just 3 assists per game during the regular season. FanDuel has his Over 4.5 assists at -125, but I'd play this up to -145 on the best sports betting sites.
🏀 More Cavaliers vs. Knicks predictions
Our LJ Blut backs the Knicks to cover the spread with his NBA play of the day.
🔥 More Cavaliers vs. Knicks prop picks
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
James Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made (+108)
Harden has been tricky throughout these playoffs, but the big draw for me here is getting plus money on this line.
Harden has attempted seven or more 3-pointers in four of his last five games - the one outlier was a 31-point blowout in Game 7 against the Pistons, so his shooting wasn't needed late in the game.
As a 37.5% 3-point shooter this season, if Harden attempts at least seven 3-pointers today, we'll probably cash this bet. Harden Over 2.5 three-pointers made is +108 at FanDuel, but I'd play this up to -110 on the best sports betting apps.
🚀 Cavaliers vs. Knicks same-game parlay
These bets are negatively correlated, but if the Cavaliers can keep this game close, then Towns will have more opportunities to pick up assists later in the game. Towns recorded seven assists in the Knicks' last non-cover (Game 2 against the 76ers).
bet365 offers this SGP at +675, while FanDuel offers the same parlay at +602.
💵 Cavaliers vs. Knicks SGP picks
- Karl-Anthony Towns 7+ assists
- Cavaliers +7
Best odds: +675 via bet365 (0.15u -> 1u)
💵 My betting record for NBA picks
All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since Feb. 10.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 185-198-4 | -3.96 units ❌ | -1% ❌ |
| Player props | 161-135-4 | -4.94 units ❌ | -1.4% ❌ |
| Parlays | 20-58 | +1.87 units ✅ | 8% ✅ |
| Spreads | 2-3 | -0.8 units ❌ | -13.1% ❌ |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units ❌ | -4.1% ❌ |
My betting record in the NBA postseason
Tracked since April 14.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77-72 | +13.08 units ✅ | 11.3% ✅ |
| Player props | 62-36 | +14.59 units ✅ | 15.1% ✅ |
| Parlays | 12-31 | +0.88 units ✅ | 7.2% ✅ |
| Spreads | 1-3 | -2.3 units ❌ | -52.5% ❌ |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units ❌ | -4.1% ❌ |
💡 How I'm betting Cavaliers vs. Knicks: NBA Playoffs Game 1 strategy
While I'm using head-to-head stats to handicap the Spurs and Thunder in the West finals, since these teams aren't true rivals, I'm leaning more into how both teams have played overall recently. Towns has moved more into a distributor role throughout these playoffs, and Harden has been attempting more 3-pointers lately - and I see no reason why either trend will stop today. It would be nice if there were a cookie-cutter way to handicap both series, but the reality is that you have to adjust your strategy depending on the matchup.
🚑 Cavaliers vs. Knicks injuries: Game 1
Injury report last updated at 3:08 p.m. ET.
Cavaliers
- Larry Nance Jr. (illness) - questionable
Knicks
- OG Anunoby (hamstring) - probable
📺 How to watch Cavaliers vs. Knicks: East finals - Game 1
- Date: Tuesday, May 19
- Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
- TV: ESPN
- Spread: Knicks -6.5
- Moneyline: Cavaliers +215 | Knicks -230
- Total: 217.5
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