Can the Knicks Be Really Favourites in Game 3 Against the Cavaliers?

After splitting the first two games of the series in Cleveland, the Knicks are 1.5-point favourites on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). After New York took Game 1 of the series, the Cavaliers quickly tied the series with a resounding victory in Game 2.

Will Friday night’s game give the New York Knicks a 2-1 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers?

Bookies like the Knicks because of home court and the presence of Julius Randle. After missing time at the end of the regular season with a sprained ankle, Randle made his comeback for the playoffs.

Bettors considering Cleveland are likely considering New York’s regular-season home success rate. The atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden on Friday is expected to be rowdy.

That could end up being crucial. However, the Knicks’ 23-18 home record was worse than their 24-17 away record. At home, Cleveland went 31-10, and on the road, they were 20-21.

After two rather low-scoring games, we’re looking for more points in this one and so favouring the over on the total of 211.5. Only 208 points were scored in Games 1 and 2, with even less scored in Game 2.

If you want to wager on the Cavaliers, we recommend going with a money line pick. Cleveland is +105 to win the game outright, which may be a better bet than taking them to cover the tiny spread. New York is a -125 underdog.

Guard Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks takes a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward Evan Mobley (4) in the second half of Game 2 of their NBA playoff series on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Cleveland.

On Friday, the Knicks are favoured to beat the Cavaliers by 1.5 points.

For Boston, a 3-0 series lead is the goal.
After Philadelphia’s 3-0 advantage over Brooklyn, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s expected comeback against the Heat, and the Celtics’ early dominance against the Hawks, the series between the Knicks and Knicks appears to be the most competitive in the Eastern Conference.

Boston is favoured by 4.5 points when the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Friday night. The Bruins lead the series 2-0.

The last time the Celtics lost against the Hawks was on February 13, 2022, when Boston won 105-95. On January 28, 2022, the Atlanta Hawks had just won their previous game against the Boston Celtics.

Even though it’s likely that Atlanta will win a game in this series, making it more of a gentleman’s sweep than an actual sweep, the Celtics seem like the ideal option here.

The Nuggets hope to go up 3-0. On Friday, Denver will host Minnesota looking to eliminate the Gophers from playoff contention.

After dropping their first two games on the road, the Timberwolves are laying 2.5 points against the Nuggets. Karl-Anthony Towns, despite terrible showings in the first two games of the series, is crucial to Minnesota’s hopes of winning this game.

Towns’s 21-point output in the team’s first two games came on 8-of-27 shooting from the field. He has nine turnovers to go along with his 22 boards. Without Towns having a significantly better performance, it’s impossible to imagine Minnesota winning this game.

The Gunners could really need a victory right now.
Despite leading the English Premier League table, Arsenal isn’t considered a title favourite after playing evenly in its past two matches.

The Gunners have a four-point advantage over Man City, but City has a game in hand and they still need to play each other in a head-to-head showdown.

On Friday, a victory for Arsenal at Southampton would give them a seven-point advantage. The Saints are now five points away from relegation from the English Premier League.

The odds are indicative of the vast gap between the clubs. Bettors may choose between +500 on Arsenal and +1300 on Southampton. The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, and a draw pays out at +600. With three or fewer goals paying -160, the under is the more likely pick.

Thursday Lucky Winner

The Suns won Game 3 on the road against the Clippers by a score of 129-124. The Suns now lead the series 3-1, led by Devin Booker’s 45 points. The Warriors won 114-97 at home on Thursday, cutting the Kings’ lead to 2-1.

Draymond Green sat out the game with an injury. Steph Curry’s 36 points helped Golden State go out to an early lead and hold off the Kings in the second half.

Despite James Harden’s expulsion and Joel Embiid’s flagrant charge, the Sixers upset the Brooklyn Nets 102-97 on Thursday to grab a 3-0 series lead.

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