The NBA season continues on Thursday with 3 interesting matchups, highlighted by an East battle between the Knicks and Cavs in Cleveland.
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Knicks are sitting comfortably in third place in the East with a solid 48-27 record. They’ve won three in a row, including a convincing 105-91 win over the struggling 76ers in their last outing. OG Anunoby led the charge with 27 points and five boards, while Landry Shamet chipped in 20 points on an efficient 58.3% shooting. With a 6-4 record in their last 10 games, New York will look to keep the momentum going against the Cavaliers as they continue to fine-tune things heading into the playoffs.
The Cavaliers are leading the conference with an impressive 60-15 record, but they’ve been a bit inconsistent lately, going 5-5 in their last 10 games. In their most recent matchup, they beat the LA Clippers 127-122 at home, with Jarrett Allen putting up an incredible 25 points and 12 rebounds on 91.7% shooting, while Donovan Mitchell added 24 points and 12 boards. Though they’re not exactly on fire right now, Cleveland is still a top team, and they'll be looking to build on their latest win as they face off against the Knicks.
Stadium Record
Cleveland has won 8 of their last 10 games at home. New York are 5-5 in their last 10.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the Knicks are 6-4.
Best Bet
I like the Over trend with these two teams. The Cavs are 7-1 against the Over in their last 8 and the Knicks are 4-2 in their last 6, including giving up 142 pts in their last game against the Cavs at this venue.
Same Game Multi
The Knicks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 and 9-4 ATS against the Cavs, so I think they keep it close.
Over 229.5 pts / Knicks +10.5 = $3.40
Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks
The Hawks are currently sitting in 8th place in the conference with a 36-39 record and still haven’t clinched a playoff spot. They’ve been struggling lately, with a 5-5 record in their last 10 games and a recent loss to the Portland Trail Blazers (127-113) at home. Trae Young had a solid outing, putting up 29 points and 15 assists, but his shooting was off at just 35%. Dyson Daniels also had a strong performance with 22 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 84.6% from the field. Atlanta will need to bounce back quickly if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Mavericks are currently sitting just outside the playoff picture with a 37-39 record and ranked 9th in the conference. They’re not exactly on fire, having gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, and they’re coming off a tough 113-109 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at home. Daniel Gafford had a solid game, scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds on 77.8% shooting, while P.J. Washington added 13 points and 5 rebounds. With a playoff spot still up for grabs, Dallas will need to turn things around quickly to stay in the race.
Stadium Record
Dallas has lost 6 of their last 7 at home. Atlanta has lost 5 of their last 6.
Head to Head Record
The Mavs have won 6 of the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
Another game that should be high-scoring. The Hawks are coming off a bad loss against the Trail Blazers and the Over is now 7-1 in their last 8 and 4-1 on the road. The Mavs are struggling too, the Over is 11-1 in their last 12.
Same Game Multi
Atlanta are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 and did put up 140 on the Bucks a few days ago.
Over 237.5 pts / Hawks +4.5 = $3.30
Detroit Pistons at Oklahoma City Thunder
The Pistons are having a solid season with a 42-33 record, sitting 5th in the conference, but they’ve hit a bit of a rough patch lately with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games and a recent loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves (123-104). Malik Beasley led the way with 27 points, while Tim Hardaway Jr. chipped in 20 points despite shooting only 35.7%. They haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet, and while they’re not on a hot streak, they’ll be hoping to bounce back quickly as they face the Thunder.
The Thunder are absolutely rolling, currently on a 10-game win streak and sporting a remarkable 63-12 record, which has them sitting at the top of the conference. They’re on fire, with a perfect 10-0 record in their last 10 games, and their most recent performance was a dominant 145-117 win over the Chicago Bulls. Isaiah Joe led the charge with 31 points, shooting an impressive 58.8%, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 27 points and 12 assists, shooting 64.3%. With a clinched playoff spot and momentum on their side, Oklahoma City looks like a tough team to beat right now as they face the Pistons.
Stadium Record
Oklahoma City are looking for a 6th straight win on their home court. Detroit holds a 2-2 record since 2021.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10, the head-to-head is tied 5-5.
Best Bet
It's hard to go past the Thunder when they're playing on home court. They're 5-0 ATS at home and I think they'll be tough to beat. The Pistons started this road trip with a 123-104 loss so I think their defence will struggle here.
Same Game Multi
The Under is 5-1 in this matchup and I see the trend continuing.
