NBA Predictions Today: Do Cavs Have a Response After Letting Game 1 Lead Slip Away?

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals had just about everything you could want, with the Knicks overcoming a 22-point deficit to beat the Cavaliers in overtime. What do these teams have on tap for Game 2? Admittedly, it’s going to be tough to predict what follows a 22-point comeback.

However, after being correct with all four of our predictions for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, we’re confident about our predictions for Game 2 between the Knicks and Cavs.

Best NBA Predictions for Thursday, May 21

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Knicks Beat Cavaliers by 6.5 Points in Game 2 (Yes, 49%)

Game 1 was supposed to be Cleveland’s ticket to get a leg up in this series against a New York team that was going to be rusty and out of rhythm after a long layoff. Unfortunately, the Cavs failed to capitalize on a big lead. After falling behind by 22 points, the Knicks managed to shake off the rust and found their way offensively. Therefore, it’s not hard to envision the Knicks picking up where they left off and winning Game 2 by a comfortable margin.

Keep in mind that the Knicks have now won eight in a row, going 7-1 against the spread during that stretch. They’ve been on another level, and after a sluggish first half, they reached that level during their comeback in Game 1. Frankly, it’d be foolish to bet against a team like that right now. With the Cavs being 2-6 against the spread on the road during the playoffs, we’ll happily back the Knicks to cover at home.

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Knicks vs. Cavaliers Over 217.5 Total Points in Game 2 (Yes, 50%)

Even with Game 1 going to overtime, the point total barely got above 217.5 points. But a lot of that is because the Knicks needed some time to get going after their layoff. They scored exactly 23 points in each of the first three quarters of the game. After finding their rhythm late in Game 1, the Knicks will come out clicking on all cylinders, forcing a high-scoring affair in Game 2.

Meanwhile, the Cavs have seen five of their last six games hit the over. They are now 10-5 O/U during the playoffs. In all but three of Cleveland’s 15 playoff games, both teams have finished over 100 points. That tells us that taking the under comes with a limited margin for error. One team would have to have an off-night offensively for that to happen, which is why we feel safer taking the over.

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Jalen Brunson 30+ Points in Game 2 (Yes, 43%)

When his team needed him in Game 1, Brunson stepped up and scored 38 points to lead the comeback. While he may not replicate that type of performance in Game 2, scoring at least 30 points isn’t out of the question for a player averaging 28.4 points per game during the postseason. In fact, he’s scored at least 30 in four of his last seven games, doing so in some of New York’s most important games.

The funny thing about Brunson’s Game 1 performance is that he was just 1 for 6 from the perimeter. He’s bound to knock down more outside shots in Game 2 to help him reach 30 points. Over the last seven games, two of the three games in which Brunson failed to hit that mark were in blowouts in which he played fewer than 30 minutes. As long as the Cavs keep things competitive in Game 2, Brunson will be asked to play big minutes, giving him an excellent chance to score 30 points.

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Evan Mobley Double-Double in Game 2 (Yes, 35%)

Mobley was a silver lining for the Cavs in Game 1. He was impactful at both ends, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds, not to mention three blocks. It would take a substantial regression in his performance for Mobley not to get another double-double in Game 2, which is why this bet has excellent value.

Granted, Mobley only has three double-doubles during the playoffs. But he’s also recorded them in back-to-back games and been within two rebounds of one on six other occasions. The added urgency of the Cavs needing to erase their Game 1 collapse should help motivate Mobley to be strong on the boards once again. Since he’s only failed to reach double digits in points twice during the playoffs, a double-double should be in the cards for Mobley again in Game 2.

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