Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Preview & Picks: Cavs vs Knicks

Following one of the most egregious blown leads we have ever witnessed in the NBA Playoffs, we have a completely different vibe for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the Big Apple.

Can the Cavaliers respond after that devastating loss, or has all the momentum shifted toward the Knicks? I'll share my thoughts below in my Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 preview and picks for the Cavs vs. Knicks.

Cavs vs Knicks Game 2 Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers held a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter of Game 1. Somehow, someway, they completely imploded, allowing New York to string together a 30-8 run to force overtime. Once the game reached OT, the Cavs stood no chance. They were deflated, demoralized, and, most importantly, defeated.

Donovan Mitchell went completely missing in the fourth quarter of that game, refusing to provide any aid on the offensive front to help minimize the damage of New York's run. And James Harden certainly didn't offer any help on the defensive end, either, when he repeatedly went one-on-one against Jalen Brunson down the stretch.

It was one of the most impressive offensive stretches we've witnessed from a player – Brunson could not miss. Every time he went up against Harden, it was like taking candy from a baby. Yet, for some reason, Cleveland refused to adjust, and they reaped what they sowed.

Heading into Game 2, oddsmakers opened the Knicks as 6.5-point favorites with the total sitting as low as 214.5.

Currently, at Lucky Rebel, here's how the odds are stacking up:

Spread: NYK -6 (-112) | CLE +6 (-108)

Moneyline: NYK (-230) | CLE (+190)

Total: 215.5 Over (-112) | Under (-108)

Look, heading into this series I envisioned that it would be much more competitive than the general public perceived it to be. As frustrating as Cleveland has been – and certainly can be – they do have playoff experience and enough veteran presence to make every game competitive. Plus, they've had solid assistance from their role players.

That was happening for three quarters in Game 1, until they absolutely, you-know-what the bed.

When it comes to handicapping, you always want to tread lightly with recency bias. I always like to say that no team is as good or as bad as they looked in their last game.

As much as I'd like to apply that to Cleveland, I just don't know if I can. Losing a high-stakes game of that magnitude, and then trying to bounce back on the road against a team with all the momentum, is a massive order – and one I don't think the Cavs can handle.

With that being said, my official wagers will be circulating the prop market, per usual. So let's dive into the action.

Cavs vs Knicks Picks

Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 Assists (-122)

In Game 1 of this series, I dished out three bets. The wagers were an under on Karl-Anthony Towns Points, Rebounds and Assists at 34.5, another was an under on Josh Hart's rebounds prop, which was listed at 8.5, and the final one was Donovan Mitchell to collect more than 3.5 assists.

Two out of the three plays hit, with the lone loser coming from Mitchell's assists. Despite that, here I am supporting the over once again.

I invested much more chalk in Game 1 on this prop, as the vig was sitting at -146. Entering that game, Mitchell had been averaging just 3.3 assists per game during the postseason, which was down from his 4.4 mark during the regular season.

What stood out to me was not only how low the number felt, but also that his potential assists metric had him at 7.4 per game during the postseason. Even though the game went to overtime and Mitchell took more of a back seat as a scorer, as I expected, he still finished with only three assists.

The good news is we're getting the same prop at a cheaper price, and his potential assists total from Game 1 came out to nine.

He's going to get there eventually, and the Cleveland Cavaliers clearly need alternative scoring options if Mitchell is going to shy away when it matters most. So, I'll be going back to the well in support of Donovan Mitchell's facilitating abilities this evening.

OG Anunoby Over 14.5 Points (-115)

Our other prop takes us to the home team's roster, where I'll be banking on OG Anunoby to score at least 15 points this evening.

Throughout this playoff run, Anunoby has averaged 20.4 points per game across nine contests, tallying at least 15 points in seven of them. He's shooting a remarkable 58.5% from the floor overall, even though he connected on just 22% (2-for-9) of his field goals in Game 1.

That poor shooting display limited him to 13 points, with the majority of his production coming from the charity stripe, where he went 8-of-10. It was a clear underperformance from Anunoby, and I don't foresee a repeat of that dismal shooting effort tonight. Even if his shots struggle to fall early, he should bounce back just enough, while hopefully remaining a frequent flyer at the free-throw line, to help push this prop over.

You have to imagine that Cleveland will shift their defensive strategy after Jalen Brunson torched them late in Game 1. That extra defensive attention should open up quality looks for a secondary scorer like Anunoby.

Cavs vs Knicks Props:

• Donovan Mitchell Over 3.5 Assists (-122 at Lucky Rebel)
• OG Anunoby Over 14.5 Points (-115 at Lucky Rebel)

NBA Record: 221-179-1 (+20.02 units)

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