Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/19

The Eastern Conference Finals are set to begin as the Cleveland Cavaliers take on the New York Knicks in Game 1. The Cavaliers are visiting Madison Square Garden for this series opener. The game will be on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 8:00 PM, and fans can catch all the action on ESPN.

The Cavaliers, led by Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, have an 8-6 record in the 2026 postseason. They have been strong at home with a 6-1 record but have struggled on the road with a 2-5 record. The Knicks, under Head Coach Mike Brown, have a better postseason record of 8-2. They have been consistent both at home and away, with records of 4-1 in each. The Knicks are coming off a seven-game winning streak, making this game an exciting start to the series.

Cavaliers vs Knicks Game Day Info

  • Sport: NBA
  • Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
  • Venue: Madison Square Garden
  • Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Knicks -7.0 (-113), Cavaliers +7.0 (-109), Knicks MoneyLine -269, Cavaliers MoneyLine +219, Over/Under 217

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers head into their next game against the New York Knicks after a strong postseason showing. They recently wrapped up a decisive win over the Detroit Pistons, finishing with a score of 125-94. Evan Mobley was impressive, contributing 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 26 points and 8 assists.

Throughout the postseason, the Cavaliers have averaged 110.4 points per game, ranking them seventh. Their field goal percentage is 46.5, placing them eighth in this category. On defense, they allow 108.8 points per game, which is ninth among playoff teams.

Key players like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have been pivotal. Mitchell is averaging 25.6 points per game, while Harden adds 20.1 points and 6.2 assists per game. The team will need these players to continue performing well, especially with Larry Nance Jr. listed as questionable due to an illness.

New York Knicks Team Preview

The New York Knicks have been strong in the postseason. They have a record of winning their last three games against the Philadelphia 76ers. Their most recent victory was by 30 points, with a final score of 144-114.

The Knicks are effective on offense, scoring an average of 120.4 points per game. They have a high field goal percentage of 51.7%. They also excel in three-point shooting with a percentage of 40.8%, which ranks first.

Defensively, the Knicks allow only 101 points per game, the best in the league. They also hold opponents to a three-point shooting percentage of 31.2%. OG Anunoby is expected to play despite a hamstring strain, providing a boost on both ends of the floor.

BTB Betting Pick

For the spread pick, the Cavaliers are +7.0 underdogs against the Knicks. The Cavaliers average 110.4 points per game, while the Knicks allow 101.0 points per game. Given the Cavaliers’ strong offensive stats, picking them to cover the spread of +7.0 (-109) is a reasonable choice.

For the over/under pick, the total is set at 217 points. The Cavaliers score 110.4 points per game, and the Knicks score 120.4 points per game. The combined average is 230.8 points, which suggests taking the over 217 (-113) is a good pick.