The Knicks have reached a flow state amid this playoff surge of 10 straight wins, and they are a victory away from the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
It’s possible that the wear and tear of two consecutive seven-game series has taken its toll on Cleveland, but it’s clear which team is the better ballclub.
During the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ 121-108 Game 3 victory, the Cavaliers essentially surrendered, letting Jalen Brunson freely drive to the basket for an uncontested layup.
Even down to the X’s and O’s, Mike Brown appears to be a step ahead of his former coaching colleague at Golden State, Kenny Atkinson.
The Knicks are favored by 2.5 points on the spread for Game 4, with an opportunity to sweep their second consecutive opponent.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 4 prediction, best bet
Brunson remains the head of the snake, but the Knicks’ starting five has blossomed into a buzz-saw lineup that can get the job done on both ends of the court.
Whenever the Cavaliers send a double-team, Mikal Bridges or Josh Hart is readily available near the free-throw line to attack the basket or take an uncontested midrange shot.
The Villanova duo is averaging 19.7 and 17.1 points per game in this series, respectively, by picking and choosing what the Cleveland defense gives them.
Bridges is on a heater, shooting 71 percent from the field and 51 percent from 3, while Hart’s signature Game 2 performance carried over into Game 3.
Karl-Anthony Towns has operated out of the post as an efficient passer, finding the open man or using bully-ball tactics against smaller defenders.
OG Anunoby remains a steady threat in both isolation and catch-and-shoot opportunities.
The Knicks hold the top defensive rating in the playoffs, with a 104.4 mark according to NBA Advanced Stats.
Their pick-and-roll coverages have forced Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley into poor half-court reads, leading to a high turnover rate.
The Cavs’ 1.28 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks last among the four teams remaining in the playoffs.
Betting on the NBA?
Their best basketball was in Game 1 and well into the fourth quarter, when they built a 22-point lead and were seven minutes from taking a 1-0 series lead.
We know how that story ended.
Take the Knicks to cover, as they’ve done so successfully in nine of their past 10 wins.
The Cavaliers are gassed and aren’t offering any resistance to the Knicks’ winning ways.
The Plays: Knicks -2.5 (-108, DraftKings) | Knicks to win by 11 or more points (+240, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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