Knicks vs. Cavaliers: Best 2023 NBA Playoffs Bets (Saturday)

Now that the Play-In games are done and all of the playoff matchups are set, let’s take a look at some of the best bets for Saturday’s games.

Saturday’s Best NBA Bets

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers

I have some worries regarding how the Knicks’ offense will fare vs the full-strength Cleveland defense, but this total is too low to pass up on.

The Over/Under was set higher for each matchup between these two teams in the regular season, with the result going comfortably Over both times the teams met in Cleveland. Neither team has answers defensively for each other’s backcourt, as the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson consistently submitted exemplary offensive performances versus one another, and (as a whole) the Knicks and Cavs rate 4th and 8th respectively in Net Offensive Rating on the season.

It’s difficult to fully grasp how the nature of the postseason may alter the pace/scoring output of this game, but I do think it’s foolish to assume less offense simply because it is no longer the regular season. These two teams are familiar with each other and would have skied over this Total in their last date with one another. It is worth noting that Cleveland C Jarrett Allen missed this game due to injury, and though his presence is most notably felt on the defensive end, his replacement in the starting lineup (Lamar Stevens) is a net better defensive player per 538’s RAPTOR Ratings than Allen.

Bet on these Guards to continue to find success in this matchup, and short the bookmakers dropping this total so significantly simply because it’s a postseason matchup.

Bet: Over 216.5 (-110)

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