The NBA playoffs continue Tuesday evening and two of the three series on the schedule had especially entertaining Game 1s over the weekend that saw both road teams take early leads.
The fifth-seeded Knicks stole the first game of their series against the fourth-seeded Cavaliers on Saturday, 101-97. In the other 4–5 matchup, the Clippers upset the Suns, 115-110, on Sunday in Phoenix’s first postseason game with Kevin Durant.
New York and Los Angeles are both in position to take commanding leads with victories Tuesday, though Cleveland is once again favored in Game 2 and the same goes for Phoenix.
(New York leads series, 1-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT
Spread: Knicks +5.5 (+100) | Cavaliers -5.5 (-118)
Moneyline: NYK (+205) | CLE (-250)
Total: Under 213.5 (-110) | Over 213.5 (-110)
Knicks-Cavaliers Best Bet: Cavaliers -5.5 (-118)
Jalen Brunson was the difference in the Knicks’ upset over the Cavaliers in Game 1. He finished with a team-high 27 points, delivered in the clutch and went head-to-head with Donovan Mitchell, who led all scorers with 38. Mitchell’s backcourt partner, Darius Garland, tallied just 17 points and one assist, and New York’s bench outscored Cleveland’s, 37-14. The rebounding battle, which the Cavs lost, 51-38, played a key role in deciding the game as they also allowed 17 offensive rebounds.
New York survived R.J. Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes — its third-, fourth- and fifth-leading scorers — combining for just 15 total points, in large part because Julius Randle was able to play – his status had been in doubt due to an ankle injury – and finished with 19 points and 10 boards.
Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff can count on improved play from Garland and second-year forward Evan Mobley, who scored eight points on 4-13 shooting, going forward in the series. And Mitchell’s scoring outburst was no outlier — he’s had similar playoff performances throughout his career and can match or even improve on that outing against the Knicks.
It’s not time for Cleveland to panic just yet, but the pressure is on to take Game 2 to avoid an 0–2 deficit when the series shifts to Madison Square Garden later in the week. The Cavaliers went 31–10 at home in the regular season and covered better than 58% of the time. Count on them to respond Tuesday evening at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.