Cavaliers seek redemption against Knicks after recent losses

The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday evening, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. This contest represents the second matchup between the two Eastern Conference contenders within a five-day span. New York defeated Cleveland 109-97 in Saturday's previous meeting.

The Knicks enter the game with a 6-4 record and are currently on a four-game winning streak. They played the first game of a back-to-back series on Tuesday, securing a 117-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. This performance reflects a marked improvement in offensive output compared to their season start.

Conversely, the Cavaliers hold a 5-6 record and have dropped four of their last five games. Cleveland suffered a 124-112 defeat to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, a loss that leaves them looking to rebound before facing New York. The team is attempting to reset its momentum after a challenging stretch of play.

Historical data favors New York in this series, as the Knicks swept Cleveland in last season's playoffs. Each game in that postseason series ended with a double-digit margin in New York's favor. These recent regular-season games add intensity to a rivalry where both teams aim to establish dominance in the conference standings.

Betting markets currently list the Knicks as 4.5-point favorites, with the total points line set at 222.5. SportsLine's Projection Model, which simulates NBA games 10,000 times, recommends betting on the Over for this specific matchup. The model cites recent trends, noting that three of the last four meetings between these teams in New York have exceeded the total score.

The model points to offensive trends as key factors in its projection. The Knicks averaged 104 points in their first four games but have averaged 115 points across their last six contests. Additionally, the Over has hit in 56% of Cavaliers games following a loss since the start of the previous season. The simulation projects that 11 players will score in double figures, with three players exceeding 20 points.

According to the 10,000 simulations, the total points are projected to reach 230, with the Over connecting in 61% of scenarios. SportsLine’s model has maintained a 28-12 record on top-rated spread picks entering Week 4 of the 2026-27 season. The system has achieved five consecutive seasons of four-digit profit for $100 players on its top NBA picks.