- Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks
- Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- Broadcast: ESPN
- Betting Odds: Cleveland (+7.5)
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The Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) are heading to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to face off against the New York Knicks (53-29) in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland starts as 7.5-point underdogs according to Las Vegas odds, with a total over/under set at 216.5.
The Cavaliers showcased a stellar performance in Game 7 against the Detroit Pistons, winning decisively with a score of 125-94. Cleveland recorded a shooting percentage of 50.6% from the field (43 of 85), hitting 11 out of 34 three-point attempts. At the free-throw line, they managed to convert 28 out of 44 shots, which translates to a success rate of 63.6%. The team grabbed a total of 50 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive end, and distributed 31 assists. Defensively, Cleveland caused 15 turnovers and made 10 steals, limiting Detroit to 35.3% shooting from the floor, allowing them 30 of 85 shots. Detroit recorded 21 assists and stole the ball 7 times, while accumulating 41 rebounds (10 offensive, 31 defensive). The Pistons finished the game with a free-throw efficiency of 75.9% by converting 22 of 29 shots, while shooting 30.8% from beyond the arc with 12 successful attempts out of 39. In the foul department, the Cavaliers committed 22 fouls compared to 31 for the Pistons.
Donovan Mitchell was a key player in the previous game, scoring 26 points with a shooting percentage of 45.5% (10 of 22). In 31 minutes on the court, he also contributed 6 rebounds and provided 8 assists.
This season, the Cavaliers stand at 52-30, averaging 119.5 points per game, ranking 4th in the league, with a shooting percentage of 48.2%. They have converted 36.0% of their three-point attempts (1,173 out of 3,261) and are successful 77.6% of the time at the free-throw line. The Cavaliers pull down an average of 44.4 rebounds per game and have accumulated 2,321 assists this season, placing them 8th in the league for passing. They average 14.0 turnovers and commit 19.6 personal fouls per game.
On the defensive front, Cleveland forces an average of 15.0 turnovers per game while committing 20.5 personal fouls. They allow opponents to shoot 37.2% from beyond the arc and rank 15th in points allowed per game (115.4). The Cavaliers concede a field goal percentage of 46.4% (3,387 out of 7,303) and allow 43.2 rebounds on average; they rank 16th in assists allowed with 2,208 given up on the season.
The Knicks recently enjoyed a victory, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 in a series sweep over a week ago. New York secured 32 defensive rebounds and 15 offensive boards for a total of 47. They turned the ball over 11 times while recording 6 steals. The 76ers committed 23 fouls, leading to 29 trips to the free-throw line for the Knicks, who converted 21 of those attempts at a rate of 72.4%. From three-point range, New York made 25 out of 44 attempts (56.8%). Overall, they shot 49 of 91 from the field, resulting in a field goal percentage of 53.8%. The Knicks allowed the 76ers to score on 43 out of 86 field goal attempts, equating to 50.0% shooting. Philadelphia went 22.9% from beyond the arc, making 8 out of 35 attempts, and finished with 20 out of 28 free-throw attempts, achieving 71.4% efficiency. Defensively, New York permitted Philadelphia to gather 30 rebounds in total (7 offensive).
Miles McBride was essential for the Knicks in their last match, finishing with 25 points in 29 minutes, though he did not register any assists. He achieved a shooting percentage of 70.0% (7 of 10) and contributed 4 rebounds.
The Knicks boast a 53-29 record this season. They average 20.0 personal fouls per game while shooting 79.2% from the free-throw line. New York dished out 27.4 assists per game (13th in the NBA) and commits 13.6 turnovers per game. So far this season, they’ve scored 9,549 points (averaging 116.5 points per game) and secured 45.6 rebounds per game. Offensively, the Knicks connect on 47.8% of their field goals, ranking them 11th in the league.
Defensively, New York allows opponents to shoot 36.2% from three-point range (1,138 out of 3,145) and permits 77.8% shooting from the line. They rank 6th in assists allowed (25.0) and 4th in rebounds allowed (40.5) per game. New York is 5th in the league in points allowed per game (110.1) and forces 14.4 turnovers per game, while allowing field goals at 46.0% efficiency (5th in the NBA).
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NBA game against the spread?
Prediction: Bet on Cleveland (+7.5)
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