The teams meet again just a few days after their encounter in Cleveland, where the New York Knicks won 109:97. For the hosts, the upcoming game is an opportunity to reaffirm their superiority over one of their Eastern Conference rivals. The Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, are going through a difficult spell: they have lost four of their last five games and have yet to find consistency in either attack or defence.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks looked noticeably better organised than their opponents in the previous meeting. They won the rebounding battle 49:40, committed just seven turnovers and managed to limit the Cleveland Cavaliers' attacking threat. Jalen Brunson was the standout performer with 31 points and nine assists. His second quarter was particularly impressive, as the point guard scored 18 points in a short spell. Karl-Anthony Towns also gained the upper hand under the basket, causing serious problems for the visitors' defence.
Cleveland Cavaliers
There are still too many questions surrounding the performances of the Cleveland Cavaliers' leading players. James Harden is falling short of expectations: he made just two of his nine shots in the previous game against the New York Knicks and is averaging 15.3 points this season. Donovan Mitchell also failed to fulfil his usual role as the main attacking threat against the Charlotte Hornets (112:124), combining with Harden for just 22 points. Inconsistent perimeter defence is causing further problems — the Cavaliers allowed the Hornets to make 23 three-pointers in their latest game.
The big men also deserve particular attention. Jarrett Allen missed the first game, and Evan Mobley struggled to cope with Karl-Anthony Towns' physical strength. The centre's return could strengthen the Cleveland Cavaliers' defence, but it will not, on its own, solve their problems with defending the three-point line and organising their offence. The New York Knicks have a more balanced rotation, and Jalen Brunson and Towns have already shown that they can consistently exploit weaknesses in their opponents' defence.
New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction
Recent head-to-head results also favour the hosts. Including last year's Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks have beaten the Cleveland Cavaliers five times in a row, with all four wins in the play-off series coming by at least seven points. The Knicks currently look the more cohesive team, while the visitors are still searching for their best line-up and ways to compensate for their leading players' dip in form. Home-court advantage and superiority in key positions make backing the hosts with a negative handicap a justified choice.
