The Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) and New York Knicks (20-9) meet Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Tip-off is scheduled for noon ET (ESPN / ABC). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Knicks lead 1-0

The Knicks won the first meeting at MSG 119-111 as 2-point underdogs as the Over (229) cashed. The game was tied 87-87 after 3 quarters before the Knicks took control. Cavs G Donovan Mitchell went for 31 points, while F/C Evan Mobley finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Knicks F OG Anunoby scored 24 points and had 14 rebounds, while C Karl-Anthony Towns ended up with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland blasted the previously red-hot New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday, winning 141-118 as a 10-point favorite, halting a 6-game against the spread (ATS) skid. The Over has cashed in 3 in a row. Cleveland has won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 21-23. The Cavs had 9 players score in double digits, and the 23-point victory was the second-highest margin of the season.

New York lost 115-104 at Minnesota as an 8-point underdog as the Under (235) cashed despite Towns going for 40 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out. Since winning the NBA Cup on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas, the Knicks are just 2-2 SU and 1-3 ATS, while the total is 2-2.

The Knicks won on Christmas last season, topping the San Antonio Spurs 117-114 while failing to cover as 8.5-point favorites as the Over (223) cashed. New York also won on Dec. 25, 2023, beating the Milwaukee 129-122 to cover a 3-point dogs as the Over (243.5) hit. The Over has hit in 3 straight Christmas Day appearances since 2022.

The Cavaliers are playing on Christmas Day for the first time since a 99-92 loss at Golden State in 2017 when LeBron James was still with the organization.

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Cavaliers at Knicks odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last update Wednesday at 5:44 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Cavaliers +190 (bet $100 to win $190) | Knicks -235 (bet $235 to win $100)Against the spread: Cavaliers +5.5 (-105) | Knicks -5.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 239.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Cavaliers at Knicks key injuries

Cavaliers

C Evan Mobley (calf) questionableF Larry Nance Jr. (calf) outF Max Strus (foot) out

Knicks

G Miles McBride (ankle) outG Landry Shamet (shoulder) outC Guerschon Yabusele (illness) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Cavaliers at Knicks picks and predictionsPrediction

Knicks 116, Cavaliers 112

The Knicks (-235) will cost you nearly 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s quite expensive given the fact there are injury concerns. G Jalen Brunson and C OG Anunoby missed Tuesday’s game in Minnesota, but are expected to play. Anunoby shined in the first meeting with the Cavaliers.

PASS.

The CAVALIERS +5.5 (-105) are worth a look catching the almost 3 buckets, but proceed with caution. Cleveland topped the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans in the past 2 games, but that’s not exactly the cream of the crop. We’ll get an idea if the Cavaliers are really making strides if it can take down the NBA Cup champs on Christmas at MSG.

The Knicks are just 1-3 ATS in the past 4 games since winning the Cup in Vegas on Dec. 16, including 1-2 ATS in the past 3 as a favorite.

The UNDER 239.5 (-110) is worth playing in this matinee action.

A noon tip is an early start, and it could take both teams some time to get going. The Under is 2-1 in the past 3 games for the Knicks, scoring 107 or fewer points in those 2 Under results.

For the Cavs, they scored 141 points, and they’ve erupted for 140.0 PPG in the past 2 games. However, the Knicks are a much better defensive team than the Hornets or Pelicans. Expect the Cleveland offense to take a big step back.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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