Twitter: @GGirlSports

The 4th Seed, Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31, 20-21) will play the 5th seed, New York Knicks 47-35, 23-18) tonight in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs First Round. The Series is currently tied 1-1, and these two teams will play tonight at 8:30 PM EDT, at Madison Square Garden, located in New York, New York. The matchup will air on ABC. If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know:

Betting Odds, Money Line, Spread, Over/Under

*All lines are taken from Draft Kings*

Money Line:

Cavaliers: +105
Knicks: -125

Over/Under: 211.5:

Cavaliers: -110
Knicks: -110

Spread:

Cavaliers: +1.5 (-110)
Knicks: -1.5(-110)

Playoff Matchup

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Series tied 1-1.

Game 1: Knicks Defeat the Cavaliers 101-97.

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-5), Over/Under 216.
Betting Results: Cleveland Money Line, Knicks +5, UNDER.

Game Summary:

Game 1 was close; however, the Knicks found a way to close it out. Although Jalen Brunson found himself in foul trouble, and had limited minutes in the first half, he carried this team. In 30 minutes, Brunson added 27 Points, 2 Steals, and shot 11-24. In those 30 minutes, most of his points came in the third and fourth quarters.

Julius Randle was gassed the entire game and came back from a 5-game absence, in which he had an ankle injury. However, he added 22 Points, 1 Steal, 8 Rebounds, and shot 42.9 Percent from the Three, and 40 Percent from the Field in 33 minutes. Randle grabbed a clutch rebound late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Knicks. In addition, the Knicks bench added 37 points, 1 steal, and 22 Rebounds. Josh Hart, who was a mid-acquisition trade, added 17 Points and 10 Rebounds.

Overall, both Cleveland and New York struggled shooting from both the Three-Point and the Field. The Knicks shot 27.6 Percent from the Three, and 42 Percent from the Field, while the Cavaliers shot 32.3 Percent from the Three, and 43.4 Percent from the field. Also, the Knicks outrebounded the Cavaliers 51-38, had more points in the paint, and fast break points. It’s important to note, Cleveland struggled from the line, and shot only 71.4 percent.

For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell led the way with 38 Points, 1 Block, 3 Steals, 5 Rebounds, and shot 6-16 from the Three, and 14-30 from the Field. Out of his 38 points, 14 of them came in the last quarter of the game. It’s important to note, the Cavaliers bench only added 14 Points.

Game 2: Cavaliers Defeat the Knicks 107-90.

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-5), Over/Under 214.5.
Betting Results: Cleveland Money Line, Cleveland -5, UNDER.

Game Summary:

Game 2 was a much different pace for the Cavaliers, in which they controlled the first three quarters of the game. Specifically, Cleveland dominated the Knicks in the 2nd quarter, 34-17. Overall, Cleveland shot much better this game compared to Game 1, and shot nearly 50 percent from the field, and 42 percent from the Three. The Knicks shot an underwhelming 24 percent from the Three, which was not much better than Game 1. This time, Cleveland outrebounded the Knicks 43-36, had more fast break points, and more points in the paint.

After an underwhelming first game, Darius Garland put on a show. Garland added 32 Points, 7 Assists, 3 Rebounds, and shot 6-10 from the Three, and 10-11 from the Free-Throw Line. He was extremely aggressive in the first half and was on the path to a 50-point game. Although Garland scored 26 in the first half of the game, he was quiet in the last two quarters. For the Knicks, both Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and RJ Barrett couldn’t get anything to fall. In fact, they shot a combined 17-50 from the field.

Season Matchup

The Knicks were 3-1 vs. The Cavaliers this season.

Game 1: New York 108 – Cleveland 121 (Cleveland Home).

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-3.5), Over/Under 220.
Betting Results: Cleveland Money Line, Cleveland -3.5, OVER.

Game Summary:

 Donovan Mitchell had a career game, adding a career-high 12 Assists, and 38 Points to lead the Cavaliers past the Knicks. Kevin Love, who was a Cavaliers bench player at the time, exploded for 29 Points, 8 Rebounds, and shot 8-13 from the Three. Cleveland solidified this game in the 4th quarter by outscoring New York 37-15. Although Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson struggled from downtown, the Knicks had 5 players who scored points in double-digits.
Ultimately Cleveland shot better from the Free-Throw Line (84. 2 Percent), Three-Point (46 Percent), although the Knicks outscored them in the paint 64-32, outrebounded them, and had more fast break points.

Game 2: Cleveland 81 – New York 92 (New York Home).

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-2.5) Over/Under 222.5.
Betting Results: New York Money Line, New York +2.5, UNDER.

Game Summary:

Looking at the score of this game, you would think both teams were without their star Players. However, that was not the case, although Cleveland was without start Center Jarrett Allen. New York controlled game 75 percent of the game, and both teams shot very poorly from the Three-Point. In addition, both struggled from the line, and the Knicks outscored the Cavaliers in the paint, 56-40, and outrebounded them 40-31. Cleveland shot a combined 8-35 from the Three, and only 34 percent from the field. In addition, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Love, and Darius Garland couldn’t buy a shot. In combination, those three players shot 7-29 from the Three.

Game 3: Cleveland 103- Knicks 105 (New York Home).

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-3), Over/Under 220.
Betting Results: New York Money Line, New York +3, UNDER.

Game Summary:

It was yet again another low scoring affair from the Knicks and the Cavaliers. Although it was a close game, Julius Randle answered with 13 Rebounds and 26 Points. Out of his 26 Points, Randle hit 5 Three-Point shots in the first quarter. Overall, The Knicks shot 50 Percent from the Three and the Field. Once again, they outrebounded Cleveland 42-41, and both teams struggled from the Free-Throw Line.

Game 4: New York 130- Cleveland 116 (Cleveland Home).

Betting Odds: Cleveland (-3.5), Over/Under 219.5.
Betting Results: New York Money Line, New York +3.5, OVER.

Game Summary:

 Game 4 was much more of an offensive game than the last. Both teams combined 89 points in the first quarter, and 62 in the in the 2nd. For the fans in the stands, this showdown did not disappoint. On Cleveland’s side, star Donovan Mitchell erupted for 42 Points and shot 16-23. For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 Points, 9 Assists, and shot 18-32 from the Field, and 7-12 from the Three. Both teams shot efficiently, however, the Knicks outrebounded the Cavaliers 48-33, and had more points in the paint. The Cavaliers ultimately had 21 Fouls in this game and couldn’t get any help on the offensive boards.

Injury Report

New York Knicks:

None

Cleveland Cavaliers:

SF Cedi Osman (Day-to Day): Ankle.
SG Dylan Windler (OUT): Foot.

Key Players

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson

There’s a reason why the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a 4-year Contract after he left the Dallas Mavericks. He’s had career-highs this season, and has brough this Knicks team around, with the help of Julius Randle.

Jalen Brunson averaged 24.5 Points, 6.1 Assists, and shot 48.6 percent from the Field at Home Games this season.
In addition, Brunson averaged 25.3 Points, 1 Steal, 6 Assists, 3 Rebounds, and shot 45 percent from the Three in 4 regular season games against Cleveland.

In two playoff Games against New York, Brunson is averaging 23.5 Points, 4 Assists, 3.5 Rebounds, and is shooting 39 Percent from the Field. It’s important to note, Brunson is shooting only 17 percent from the Three, however he’s a very efficient free-throw shooter in this series. Look for him to step up his shooting tonight at home.

Julius Randle

Julius Randle has been everything for the Knicks and beyond. In Home Games this year, Randle, averaged 23.5 Points, 9.7 Rebounds, 4.1 Assists, and shot 44.6 Percent from the field, and 31 Percent from the field. In addition, he knocked down 77 percent of free-throws at home games.  In 3 games against Cleveland in the regular season, Randle averaged 23 Points, 5 Assists, 10.3 Rebounds, and shot 41 Percent from the Three.

In 2 Playoff Games against Cleveland, Julius Randle is averaging 20.5 Points, 1.5 Steals, 9 Rebounds, and is shooting 35.3 Percent from the Field. The Knicks will rely heavily on Randle and Brunson to carry this team if they want to make a deep playoff run.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell was acquired by the Utah Jazz and hasn’t disappointed. Mitchell is a huge part of this Cleveland team, on and off the court. In Road Games this season, Mitchell averaged 28.9 Points, 1.2 Steals, 4.2 Assists, and 4.2 Rebounds. He averaged 48 Percent from the Field, and 36.5 Percent from the Three. In addition, Mitchell averaged 88.2 Percent from the line in road games.

In 4 games against the New York Knicks in the regular season, Donovan Mitchell averaged 31.8 Points, 1.3 Steals, 1.3 Blocks, and 4.8 Rebounds. He shot an incredible 50.6 Percent from the Field, and 46.8 Percent from downtown.

In two playoffs games against New York, Donovan Mitchell is averaging 27.5 Points, 2.5 Steals, 1 Block, and 10.5 Rebounds. Additionally, Mitchell is shooting 38 Percent from the Three, and 48.9 Percent from the Field. I expect Mitchell to be a huge influence on the court tonight, especially on the road.

Darius Garland

Darius Garland is an extremely talented guard who can facilitate, shoot, and can take it upon himself to control games. On Road Games this season, Garland averaged 20.2 Points, 1.3 Steals, and 2.7 Rebounds. Garland shot 82 Percent from the line, 38.7 percent from the three, and 43.6 percent from the field on the road.

In 3 Regular season games against the Knicks, Darius Garland averaged 19.7 Points, 1 Steal, and 6 Assists. In addition, he averaged 82 percent from the line, 36.8 Percent from the Three, and 34.5 Percent from the field.

Darius Garland has stepped up nicely in two playoff games against the Knicks. He’s averaging 24.5 Points, 2 Steals, and 4 Assists. Garland is shooting an incredible 57 Percent from Three, and 50 Percent from the Field. He is a main staple of this team and is averaging 40 playing minutes in the playoffs.

Key Stats- Playoffs

•New York averages 99 Points Per Game.

•Cleveland averages 112 Points Per Game.

•New York ranks 9th in Points Allowed with 112 opponents points per game.

•Cleveland ranks 4th in Points Allowed with 99 opponents points per game.

•New York ranks 7th in Rebounds Per Game with 45.

•Cleveland ranks 1st in Rebounds Per Game with 58.

•New York ranks 12th in Point Differential at -13.

•Cleveland ranks 4th in Point Differential at +13.0.

•New York ranks 7th in Blocked Shots with 4 per game.

•Cleveland ranks 3rd in Blocked Shots with 7 per game.

•New York averages 17.4 percent from the 3-point, while Cleveland averages 39.4 from the 3-point.

Key Stats- Regular Season

•New York averaged 116 Points Per Game. 

•Cleveland averaged 112.3 Points Per Game. 

•New York ranked 13th in Points Allowed with 113.1 opponents points per game.

•Cleveland ranked 1st in Points Allowed with 106.9 opponents points per game.

•New York ranked 3rd in Rebounds Per Game with 44.4.

•Cleveland ranked 25th in Rebounds Per Game with 46.6.

•New York ranked 7th in Point Differential at + 2.9

•Cleveland ranked 2nd in Point Differential at + 5.3.

•New York ranked 23rd in Blocked Shots with 4.1 per game.

•Cleveland ranked 14th in Blocked Shots with 4.7 per game.

•New York averaged 35.4 percent from the 3-point, while Cleveland averaged 36.7 from the 3-point.

LAST 10 GAMES + GAME PREDICTION

SPREAD: Cleveland +1.5

-New York covered the spread in 5 of their last 10 games.

-Cleveland covered the spread in 6 of their last 10 games.

-New York has a 45-35-4 record ATS this season.

-Cleveland has a 43-37-4 record ATS this season.

-New York 18-20-3 in HOME games ATS this season.

-Cleveland is 18-20-3 in AWAY games ATS this season.

Unless Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland go ice cold from shooting, I fully expect Cleveland to take close in this game. Give me Cleveland +1.5.

MONEY LINE: KNICKS

-New York won the Money Line 6 out of their last 10 games.

-Cleveland won the Money Line 6 of their last 10 games.

This is an extremely hard pick. The Knicks are 3-1 vs. The Cavaliers this season and play well at Home. In addition, Randle and Brunson did not play well last game. Give me the Knicks Money Line at home. I expect both teams to rely on their 5 starters, and not so much on their benches.

OVER/UNDER: UNDER

-New York Avg +/- vs O/U Line: +3.8.

-Cleveland Avg +/- vs O/U Line: -1.31.

-New York Overall O/U Record: 43-39-2.

-Cleveland Overall O/U Record: 40-44-0.

-Cleveland hit the UNDER in 7 of their last 10 Games.

-Cleveland hit the OVER 5 times in their last 10 Games.

So far, the under has hit in both playoff games, and 2 out of their 4 games in the Regular Season. Unless both Teams are hot from the field, I expect this game to hit the UNDER.

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Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of Ballislife.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter/Twitch/YouTube/Instagram/Kick: @GGirlSports.