Published May 20, 6:56am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 20, 6:56am ET
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Updated May 20, 6:56am ET
Thursday’s NBA Playoff action features the New York Knicks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Who has the edge in our Knicks vs Cavaliers pick?
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| New York Knicks | -6.5 (-105) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +6.5 (-115) |
Dating back to the first round, New York has now reeled off eight straight wins. This impressive stretch includes an improbable come-from-behind 115-104 overtime victory against Cleveland in Game 1.
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The Knicks looked like a team that was coming off a long layoff early on. They shot 4-for-23 from beyond the arc through the first three quarters, and trailed 93-71 with 7:52 left to play. But from that point, New York rallied to tie the game and dominated the overtime frame en route to their eighth straight postseason victory.
Jalen Brunson provided the home crowd with yet another brilliant performance, finishing with 38 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Mikal Bridges added 17 points and five boards on 7-for-11 shooting from the field.
On the other side of this matchup, the Cavaliers did everything right for 40 minutes. Holding a 22-point lead through the first four minutes of the fourth quarter, they seemed poised to steal their third consecutive road win against a well-rested opponent.
But the huge lead was not enough, as Cleveland was outscored by a devastating 44-11 margin from the 7:52 mark of the fourth through overtime. This includes a 9-0 run by the Knicks to open OT.
“We played great basketball tonight for three quarters. Unfortunately, the fourth quarter — they dominated us in the fourth quarter,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said.
All five starters reached double figures for Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 29 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Jarrett Allen contributed a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Will New York roll to its ninth straight win, or will Cleveland level the series at 1-1?
New York enters this contest as a 6.5-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of Game 2.
The Knicks are 4-6 in the previous 10 meetings in this series. However, New York is 9-2 across its last 11 home outings. Given that New York absorbed Cleveland's best shot, the edge goes to the home team.
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Pick
New York Knicks (-6.5)
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