The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks rekindle a rivalry on Tuesday evening after the two met during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The first matchup between the squads in 2023-24 will be televised nationally, with both teams 1-2 overall to begin the new season. This game will take place at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, with the Knicks entering at 1-1 on the road and the Cavaliers aiming for their first home win of the campaign. Darius Garland (hamstring) and Jarrett Allen (ankle) are out for Cleveland, with Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) and Caris LeVert (hamstring) listed as questionable.
SportsLine consensus lists New York as 2-point favorites, and tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. The total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 214 in the latest Knicks vs. Cavaliers odds. Before making any Cavaliers vs. Knicks picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer simulation model.
The Knicks enter the evening with a 1-2 record in their first three games and are coming off a 96-87 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night in Louisiana.
The injury-plagued Cavaliers were without point guard Darius Garland (left hamstring strain) for the third straight game and have not had center Jarrett Allen (left ankle bone bruise) in uniform this season. Top reserve Caris LeVert also did not play (left hamstring soreness), nor did backup point guard Ty Jerome (right ankle sprain).
"It's tough because we're missing a bunch of guys, but you can't dwell on it because we have to come back tomorrow and do it again," Mitchell said. "I'm never one to make excuses."
Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he hoped that Allen "is doing more and more work and hopefully will be back soon," but doesn't have a return date targeted.
Over an 82-game sample last season, the Cavaliers led the NBA in defensive efficiency, giving up only 109.9 points per 100 possessions. Cleveland led the league in assists allowed (23.0 per game) and ranked in the top five of the NBA in 3-pointers allowed (11.3 per game), turnover creation (12.7 per game), second-chance points allowed (12.7 per game), and points allowed in the paint (46.3 per game). With excellent guard play also fueling a potent offense, Cleveland is in an encouraging overall position at home.
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