The New York Knicks are in a position to knock the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday night after jumping out to a 3 – 1 series lead on Sunday. The line setters are pointing to a convincing home win for the Cavs issuing the home team odds at -5.5 with a 202 showing on the total.
The Under in this series is a solid 4 – 0 but an elimination game might see that run come to an end with desperation and necessity at the forefront of the series. The Knicks haven’t advanced past the first round of the NBA Playoffs since 2013, and the Cavs are on the brink of elimination, so let the festivities begin!
Knicks vs Cavaliers Betting Preview: Cavs on the brink of elimination
Game 5 Odds and Details: 7:05 ET Tip-off – Wednesday, April 27
Cleveland -5.5 / New York +5.5 ; Total O/U 202
Cleveland -200 ML ; Knicks +175 ML
How the Knicks and Cavs Enter Game 5
Let me tell you that the talk amongst the NY media is the concern about Donovan Mitchell breaking out for a big game 5 to keep his team alive. Since his game 1 performance which produced 38 points despite the loss, Mitchell has been held in check by the New York defense.
Mitchell was held to 11 points in game 4, and that is simply not going to get the job done if he shut down again in Game 5. The Cavs WILL BE ELIMINATED if Mitchell does not come up with the game of his lift because the Cavaliers’ depth can’t make up the difference.
Cleveland has basically put 7 players on the court throughout the first round of the playoffs, while the Knicks have utilized their bench a tad better. Despite having 5 players averaging double-digits in the NBA Playoffs, Cedi Osman and Isaac Okoro have brought the only relief for coach Bickerstaff.
J.B. Bickerstaff has never seen the second round of the NBA Playoffs in eight years of coaching in the league, and might we say his job is on the line should the Cavs make the early exit from the post-season?
The Knicks have had the Cavs number most of the season after the Cavaliers took the first early meeting of the campaign back in October. New York has won 6 of the last 7 meetings with the Cavs including jumping out to a 3 – 1 first-round series lead coming into Wednesday’s tilt at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Despite not having the ‘household name’ that everyone can relate to, Jalen Brunson has done all he can to change that fact. Brunson is averaging 24.3 PPG through the first four games of this series, and he is doing a fantastic job of keeping his teammates active around him.
With 5 dimes a game, Brunson is slowly becoming the Knicks’ go-to guy and he has also done a great job limiting turnovers and has done just as well creating them. With just under 3 steals a game, Brunson has helped turn defense into offense and that presents trouble for Cleveland even if they do have the home crowd in tow.
I am suggesting a few plays to make for this game and all three of the offers have reasonable odds that are worth the action.
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Plays to Make in the NY Knicks at Cleveland Cavs for Game 5
First of all, Donovan Mitchell is going to have to find his teammates because there is no way the Knicks are going to let him break out for that big game he needs to come up with for Game 5. I believe that as long as the guys around him can drop some shots, Mitchell will again dish out at least 6 assists and the line we are getting on the Over 5.5 dimes comes in at +110.
Secondly, Brunson’s prop bet of Points = Assists + Rebounds comes in at 33.5, and -110 is nothing to ask for that expectation in Game 5 on the road. All of us here in New York know that Brunson is going to make or break this team because he is the guy doing everything and playing the most minutes (36.5 MPB).
Lastly, I am far from convinced that the Cavaliers are going to smack around the Knicks on Wednesday just because the game is in Ohio. The line setters know what they are doing as usual, but this game is going to come down to the wire, in my opinion. We can get the +6 at -115 at many books carrying the option, although the 5.5 will likely be what you see in front of you when you open the betting board.
I strongly suggest you find a way to have the Knicks on your board whether you add them in a teaser-pleaser and buy a few points, or just settle for the handful of points we are getting in this spot.
Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 5 Bets to Make:
Mitchell Over 5.5 Assists @ +110
Brunson Over 33.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds @ -110
New York Knicks +5.5 Points @ -110
Enjoy Game 5, and good luck with your bets on this game as I expect both of the main guys for each squad to continue to be the dudes that get things done.
