Knicks vs Cavaliers Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NBA Playoffs Game 3

Jason Logan: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Jason Logan • Senior Betting Analyst 21+ years betting experience
Updated: May 23, 2026 , 04:55 PM ET • 4 min read

After being completely iced out by his own team in the second half of Game 2, Evan Mobley somehow finished just short of his scoring total. Analyst Jason Logan expects Cleveland to learn from that blunder, making Mobley’s inside-out scoring a main focal point for Game 3.

NBA

May 23 • 8:00 PM ET
NY
42 %
CLE
58 %
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Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Evan Mobley
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) reacts during the second quarter of game two of the eastern conference finals.
  • UPDATE: Added prediction for who will win & a +900 SGP!

Anyone who’s ever played pickup basketball knows exactly how frustrating Game 2 was for Evan Mobley. 

There is nothing worse than starting a game red-hot, only to have your teammates completely freeze you out to jack up contested shots.

It happens at the YMCA, and apparently, it happens in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland cooled a sizzling start from their 7-footer by forcing a barrage of missed threes in Wednesday’s loss.

My Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions recognize Mobley’s massive scoring upside tonight—even if his own team forgot about him—and our best NBA picks are riding the Over on his points prop for Game 3.

Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 3 prediction tonight

Who will win Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 3?

Knicks: New York's extended break between series is showing. The Cavaliers went from a seven-game frying pan into the fire of the Eastern Conference finals, with little rest and recovery.

Cleveland’s legs look heavy in the final frame, Donovan Mitchell is playing through pain, and New York just has too many offensive options to counter.

The Knicks have been barnstormers in the playoffs, going 4-1 SU and ATS on the road.

Knicks vs Cavaliers best bet: Evan Mobley Over 15.5 points (-125)

Evan Mobley came out guns blazing in Game 2, scoring 14 points in the first half — just a bucket shy of his O/U of 15.5.

However, Mobley wouldn’t score again. His usage dipped from 21.4% in the 1H to an embarrassing 5.3% in the final 24 minutes. 

While the New York Knicks did a better job denying the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bigs, Cleveland is at its best when Mobley gets going, and it needs to keep the 7-footer involved.

Mobley will enjoy an uptick in scoring at home, and his Game 3 projections sit as high as 18 points.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Evan Mobley went 6-for-8 from the floor in Game 2 and did not attempt a single shot in the second half. The last four times he failed to reach double-digit FGAs (without injury), Mobley bounced back with performances of 14, 17, 23, and 25 points in the following game.

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Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 3 same-game parlay

At least the Cavaliers get to sleep in their own beds before Game 3. Cleveland looks tired, and head coach Kenny Atkinson is outclassed against a loaded Knicks attack and a crafty Mike Brown. New York has been excellent on the road, boasting a 4-1 SU mark as a visitor in the playoffs.

Mobley had topped his scoring total in five straight games before going MIA in the second half of Game 2 — falling just two points shy of his O/U. He left points at the foul line, and Cleveland needs to focus on getting him touches, as we’ve seen the Knicks struggle against talented bigs in the postseason.

New York has gotten huge efforts from Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Now it’s OG Anunoby’s turn.

The athletic forward hasn’t been as active in the offense as he works his way back from a tender hamstring, but he’s one player who doesn’t shrink in enemy territory. Anunoby scores almost two points more per game on the road and has averaged 26.7 points per game in three road playoff games.

Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP

  • Knicks moneyline
  • Evan Mobley Over 15.5 points
  • OG Anunoby Over 14.5 points

Our "from downtown" SGP: Uh Oh(io)

The Knicks offense is a well-oiled machine at this point in the playoffs. With the Cavs blitzing Brunson, he’s finding open teammates for a ton of assists.

Anunoby’s energy thrives on the road, and Karl-Anthony Towns is taking plenty of 3-point attempts, coming away with three triples in Game 2. 

Projection models call for 17+ from OG, 7+ dimes from Brunson, and a pair of treys from KAT in a Game 3 win for New York. 

Knicks vs Cavaliers SGP

  • Knicks moneyline
  • OG Anunoby Over 14.5 points
  • Jalen Brunson Over 6.5 assists
  • Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 threes

Knicks vs Cavaliers odds for Game 3 tonight

  • Spread: Knicks +2.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -2.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Knicks +115 | Cavaliers -135
  • Over/Under: Over 214 (-110) | Under 214 (-110)

Knicks vs Cavaliers betting trend to know

Should this spread hold up, New York will be an underdog for just the 20th time all year. The Knicks are 11-8 ATS in the previous 19 games as a pup, with the final score playing Under the total in 14 of those 19 outings. Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Cavaliers.

How to watch Knicks vs Cavaliers Game 3

Location Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date Saturday, May 23, 2026
Tip-off 8:00 p.m. ET
TV ABC

Knicks vs Cavaliers latest injuries

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Jason Logan Senior Industry Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

In his 20 years with Covers, lead NFL betting analyst Jason Logan has seen it all and bet it all. Through the wild west of early Internet gambling to lobbying for legalized sports betting to our brave new wagering world, Jason has been a consistent source of actionable info and entertainment for squares and sharps alike.

Since joining the Covers team back in 2005, he honed his handicapping skills to provide audiences with the most thorough insights, blending traditional capping methods with advanced modelling and predictive analysis. Jason has studied the ins and outs of the sports betting business, learning from some of the most successful gamblers in the industry and the biggest sportsbook operators on the planet.

He is under center for Covers during NFL season as our top NFL expert, taking the points in his infamous NFL Underdogs column and representing the Covers Community at the Super Bowl. While he lives for football season, Jason's first love is basketball and that shows in his in-depth NBA, NCAA, and WNBA betting breakdowns.

On top of being a mainstay in media from coast to coast at stations like WPIX, PHL17, Fox 5 San Diego, WGNO, TSN, SportsNet, ESPN Radio, Jason's analysis has also been featured in USA Today, MSNBC, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CBS, Bloomberg, the L.A. Times, the New York Times and other major publications. You can also find JLo stuffing all the top picks and predictions he can into 10 minutes as the host of Covers' flagship podcast, The Sharp 600.

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