Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks Game 1 Preview, Picks & Odds for Tuesday, May 19, 2026

By Braxton Reynolds | May 18, 2026, 7:47pm

Game 1 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The Knicks won two of three matchups during the regular season, although the last contest was three months ago.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Betting Analysis

The playoffs have been a rollercoaster for the Cavaliers. They shot out to a dominant 2-0 start against Toronto before struggling on the road and eventually going the distance. On the other hand, it was Cleveland who dropped the first two games against Detroit before battling back and winning Game 7 in the second round.

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have both been wildly inconsistent throughout the playoffs, as they routinely oscillated between All-NBA-caliber production and arguably net negative play. The duo needs to raise its floor if the Cavaliers are going to pull off the upset. Fortunately, it should be slightly easier for them to score against New York’s defense compared to Toronto’s or Detroit’s units.

Meanwhile, the Knicks enter this series on fire. They are 8-2 in the playoffs with an incredible net rating of 20 points per 100 possessions. Jalen Brunson has led the scoring charge at 27.4 points per game on 60.1% true shooting. His co-star Karl-Anthony Towns is arguably playing the best basketball of his career. The 6x All-Star is averaging 17.4 points, 10 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.6 stocks per game on jaw-dropping 74% true shooting this playoffs. He’s passing at a very high level while also playing excellent defense relative to his standards.

OG Anunoby’s health is an X-Factor. He has not played since sustaining a hamstring strain on May 6. It was reportedly a minor issue, but hamstrings are tricky and prone to re-injury after strains. New York needs him healthy because Anunoby’s defense against Mitchell, Harden, and Evan Mobley is key. The veteran also adds elite play-finishing to the Knicks’ offense.

The best bet for Game 1 is taking Jalen Brunson to record at least 34 points plus assists. There are plenty of perimeter weaknesses for him to attack because Mitchell and Harden will both play heavy minutes. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s wings and bigs are capable of putting up a fight against Towns, Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Jalen Brunson O33.5 Points + Assists (-118)
Score Prediction: Knicks 119, Cavaliers 108

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game Odds

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game Information

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Network: ESPN
Location: New York, New York
Venue: Madison Square Garden – 227 ppg; 21-23-1 O/U
Series Score: Tied 0-0

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Betting Resources

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Key Players

Cavaliers

Donovan Mitchell – Last Game: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists
James Harden – Last Game: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists
Evan Mobley – Last Game: 21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists

Knicks

Jalen Brunson – Last Game: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
Karl-Anthony Towns – Last Game: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists
OG Anunoby – Last Game: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists

Braxton Reynolds

Braxton has been covering the NBA for Lineups since the 2022 season. He's worked with multiple collegiate coaching staffs regarding analytics and scouting, which has allowed him to understand the game on a deeper level. Braxton also currently writes about the Oklahoma City Thunder for Thunder Roundtable.