Expert prediction
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 Preview, Odds & Predictions (May 23)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Knicks won the first two games of the series at home.
- The Cavaliers hope to avoid a 3-0 series deficit.
- New York went 2-1 against Cleveland in their regular-season matchups.
The Eastern Conference Finals is underway in the 2026 NBA playoffs as the Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks in Game 3 on Saturday night. The former stands out as the slight favorite, paving the way for an entertaining series to see who comes out of the East.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, May 23, 8 pm ET
- Where: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
- How to Watch: ESPN
NBA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY Knicks | -103 | +2.5 | O215.5 |
| CLE Cavaliers | -117 | -2.5 | U215.5 |
Game Preview
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks (2-0) are in serious title contention after winning seven straight games to eliminate the Atlanta Hawks in six games then sweep the Philadelphia 76ers in four games. This marks their second straight Conference Finals berth; the first time they pulled this off since 1999 and 2000. New York continues to be on fire with nine straight victories, defending homecourt with convincing wins over Cleveland in Games 1 and 2. Josh Hart was the star of the night in Game 2 with 26 points and seven assists on 10-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. Brunson came next with 19 points and 14 assists, while Mikal Bridges provided 19 points for the offense.
Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers (0-2) remain resilient in their playoff run, going through back-to-back seven-game series in the first two rounds. However, they can’t allow themselves to go through another seven-game series and come back from deep deficits. Their losses on the road is proof of that as they can’t afford to keep losing away from home. Mitchell manned the offense with 26 points and four rebounds in Game 2. James Harden followed with 18 points and six rebounds, while Evan Mobley contributed with 14 points and six rebounds.
Cavaliers vs Knicks Predictions
This Conference Finals series will see who gets to make the NBA Finals as the East representative, facing either Oklahoma City or San Antonio. Cleveland must do everything possible to get its offense back on track with valuable production from their players off the bench while slowing down New York’s offense. However, if Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns get their shots going early on for the Knicks, it will be a long night for the hosts. Our betting pick here is for the Knicks to defend a 2.5-point spread.
- Free NBA pick: New York Knicks -2.5
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