NBA Prop Bets: New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers (May 19, 2026)

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. Let's take a look at the NBA Prop Bets for Tuesday's matchup. The Knicks opened as 6.5-point favorites but the spread has since moved to 7.5, leaving the Knicks at -265 and Cavaliers at +215. The total points line is set at 217.5, with OVER at -105 and UNDER at -115, meaning the implied expected score for the game is 112-105 New York.

• The Knicks (-105) have a 51-41-1 ATS record this season including playoffs, while the Cavaliers (-115) hold a record of 39-56-1.
• The Knicks have a 43-49-1 O/U record this season including playoffs (meaning 43 games have gone over the total points line, 49 have gone under and one has resulted in a push). The Cavaliers have a 49-47-0 O/U record.

Scoring Insights

• New York has averaged 120.4 points throughout this season's playoffs, while giving up 101.0. Comparatively, Cleveland has scored 110.4 per game and allowed 108.8. Looking at their best and worst postseason offensive performances, the Knicks' playoff-high is 144 while their playoff-low is 106. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers' high is 126 and low is 89.

Game Style

What do the stats tell us about the style of basketball these teams are playing during the postseason?

Field Goal Split

• Looking at field goal splits during the playoffs, 38.4% of the Knicks' field goal attempts have come from three point range, leaving 61.6% from two. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers' opponents have taken 34.6% of their attempts from three and 65.4% from two.
• Comparatively, Cleveland has taken 45.4% of shots from three, leaving 54.6% from two, while New York's opponents have attempted 42.6% from three and 57.4% from two.

Beyond the Arc

• In terms of made three-pointers, the Knicks have shot 40.8% from deep throughout the postseason, compared to the Cavaliers who are making 34.0% of their attempts.
• On the opposite end, New York has held opponents to 31.2% of their three-point attempts, while Cleveland's opponents have hit 37.3% of their shots.

Ball Protection

• The Knicks are committing 13.3 turnovers per game in these playoffs, while the Cavaliers have forced 15.6 turnovers across the postseason.
• Flipping that script, New York is forcing 14.6 turnovers, while Cleveland is committing 16.6.

Crashing the Boards

• New York is pulling down 44.7 rebounds per game during the playoffs, including 10.8 offensive boards. Conversely, Cleveland's opponents are averaging 40.6 rebounds, 12.4 of which have come on the offensive end.
• Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have averaged 42.1 rebounds and 12.1 offensive rebounds, while the Knicks are allowing 35.1 and 9.0.

First Quarter Winner

New York is -170 to win the first quarter, while Cleveland is +142. Here are their first quarter records in this season's playoffs.

	Total	Home	Road	Favorite	Underdog
New York	7-3-0	4-1-0	3-2-0	7-2-0	0-1-0
Cleveland	6-7-1	4-3-0	2-4-1	5-4-1	1-3-0

First Half Winner

New York is -192 to win the first half and Cleveland is +160. Here are their first half records in this season's playoffs.

	Total	Home	Road	Favorite	Underdog
New York	8-2-0	4-1-0	4-1-0	7-2-0	1-0-0
Cleveland	4-8-2	3-3-1	1-5-1	3-5-2	1-3-0

HT/FT

New York is -160 to complete the HT/FT double. Conversely, Cleveland is +270.

• The Knicks have completed the HT/FT double in 48.4% of games since the beginning of the regular season, while the Cavaliers have completed the HT/FT double in 41.7% of games. During the playoffs, New York has completed the HT/FT double in seven of 10 games, while Cleveland has completed the HT/FT double in four of 14 contests.

To Go To Overtime

Tuesday's matchup is +2000 to go to overtime.

• The Knicks have played in two games that went to overtime since the beginning of the regular season, while the Cavaliers have appeared in five. New York is yet to play in game that went to overtime during this season's playoffs. Meanwhile, Cleveland has appeared in two.

Both Teams 110+

• Both teams have scored 110+ points in one of New York's [y] games during the playoffs. Meanwhile, four of Cleveland's 14 postseason games have seen both squads reach that number.

Last Time They Met

Cleveland recorded a 109-94 victory over New York at Rocket Arena when these teams last met on February 24. Donovan Mitchell was prominent on that day, recording 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals.