Knicks vs Cavaliers Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Mitchell Haunts New York on Halloween

In a rematch of the first round of the NBA playoffs, the New York Knicks are heading to Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first night of a back-to-back.

Both squads are coming off losses and looking to rebound, with a struggling Knicks offense going toe-to-toe with an up-and-down Cavs defense. Despite the inconsistent play, the game won’t be short on brand-name talent, with a Cavs star in position to put up big numbers in a game that the NBA odds have Cleveland as a home dog.

Find out where my best bets lie in our NBA picks and predictions for Knicks vs. Cavaliers on Tuesday, October 31.

Knicks vs Cavaliers odds

Knicks vs Cavaliers predictions

Just two games into his second season in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell has been on a tear.  After scoring 27 and adding another six assists in the opener against the Brooklyn Nets, Spider played a whopping 42 minutes against Oklahoma City and finished with 43 points and five assists.

While he’s dealing with hamstring soreness that led to him missing the third game of the season, a loss to the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland is hopeful he’ll be back for the first game against the Knicks.

With starters Jarrett Allen (bone bruise) and Darius Garland (strained hamstring) out for the game, the Cavaliers will be relying on Mitchell to take over, and we’ll be relying on him to hit the Over on points and assists (37.5). You can’t go wrong trusting a spider on Halloween.

In his first season in Cleveland last year, Mitchell averaged a combined 32.7 points and assists and had a combined 38 points and assists 25 times in 68 games (36%). But with Garland out, Mitchell has had to take on a bigger load averaging 39 minutes in his first two games with 40.5 combined points and assists.

It’s a tiny sample size, yet with Garland out again, it would make sense for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to continue to lean on Mitchell. He’s shooting 24 field goals a game this season — almost four more than last season — and more 3-pointers — 10.5 this season to 9.3 last season. Mitchell also continues to be a trusty free throw shooter, knocking down 83% on six per game.

His volume is the key to hitting the Over here with Mitchell having the eighth-highest usage rate (31%) of players who played at least 60 games last season, and this season he’s right back up there at 31.2%. 

Mitchell also has a matchup he can exploit, with Jalen Brunson struggling on defense this season — he has a defensive rating of 111.1 — and backcourt mate Quentin Grimes, while normally a stout defender, hasn’t been any better with a 112.4 defensive rating.

To get those assists to boost Mitchell’s total, Evan Mobley will be key. The 22-year-old big man is averaging 19 points per game through three games and coming off an impressive 33-point game against the Pacers.

Without Garland, the offense is running through Mitchell and Mobley and it gives our target ample opportunity to hit this Over.

My best bet: Donovan Mitchell Over 37.5 points and assists (-115 at bet365)

Knicks vs Cavaliers same-game parlay

Mitchell Over 37.5 P + A

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 P + A

Over 215.5

+375 at bet365

Similar to Mitchell with the Cavs, the Knicks are going to need a big offensive game out of Jalen Brunson to win this one.

In his first season in the Big Apple last year, the former Dallas Maverick averaged well Over his 26.5 combined points and assists line for this game. He was up at 30.2 combined per game last season and while he’s had a slower start this year — a combined 25.3 — his usage rate is slightly higher this season.

If Mitchell and Brunson are both cooking, then points will be scored. This season, the Knicks are allowing 108 per game with the Cavs allowing 115.3 per game. If both keep it up, they’ll hit that Over. This is the lowest total Cleveland has had this season.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Knicks vs Cavaliers and Over/Under analysis

After opening with the Cavs as one to 1.5-point favorites, the line has swung in the other direction due to Cleveland’s injuries. New York is now a 2.5 to 3-point favorite at most books.

While it’s still early, Cleveland is one of only three teams yet to cover the spread this season. It’s 0-3 and has failed to cover twice as a favorite and once as an underdog.

As for the Knicks, they’re 1-1-1 against the spread. The lone time they’ve been favorites this season, against the Atlanta Hawks, they covered. 

The total for this one opened around 216 and has shifted down a touch to between 214.5 and 215.5. The Cavs are 2-1 betting the Over this year and have cleared it both times it was below 226. The Knicks have been less consistent, going 1-2 betting the Over, but haven’t had a total this low this season.

Knicks vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

The New York Knicks have hit the moneyline in 27 of their last 46 away games (+14.50 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Cavaliers.

Knicks vs Cavaliers game info

Knicks vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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