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The New York Knicks will try to secure the rest advantage over their Western Conference counterpart in the NBA Finals when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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These Knicks vs. Cavaliers props and NBA picks for Game 4 fully expect New York to complete this sweep tonight, with Karl-Anthony Towns playing a key role.
For more on this game, read Zak Hanshew’s Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions.
Best Knicks vs Cavaliers props for Game 4
|
Player |
Pick |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Karl-Anthony Towns |
Over 3.5 points 1Q |
-150 |
|
James Harden |
Under 17.5 points |
+100 |
|
Miles McBride |
Over 5.5 points |
+102 |
Game 4 Prop #1: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 3.5 points 1Q (-144)
The New York Knicks should emphasize a strong start tonight. Make the Cleveland Cavaliers face elimination early in Game 4 and challenge them to not think about packing it in before they head to the beach.
The NBA punchline of “1, 2, 3, Cancun” usually overlooks that moment at the start of Game 4 when the “Cancun” aspect of that laugh is cemented. A strong first quarter can erase any remaining competitive intrigue from the trailing team.
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Jalen Brunson may be New York’s star, but he rarely starts a game aggressively. He instead incorporates his teammates early before taking over late. For example, Brunson has scored just two and five points in the last two first quarters.
Karl-Anthony Towns, however, is a willing beneficiary of Brunson’s early deference. Towns has scored seven and 11 points in the last two first quarters, a combination of long-range shooting and work at the rim.
Two buckets from Towns in tonight’s early frame is not much of an ask, but it would help spur the Knicks toward the Finals more than usual.
Game 4 Prop #2: James Harden Under 17.5 points (-102)
Winning back-to-back seven-game series should not be quickly forgotten, but losing a sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals may cost the Cavaliers and James Harden all such goodwill. Well, it may cost the Cavaliers all such goodwill. It is debatable if Harden has any such goodwill.
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He went 3-for-9 from the field in the decisive win against the Raptors in the first round before going 2-for-10 from the field in Game 7 against the Pistons. Did Cleveland win because of Harden or despite him?
This Game 4 should not help his argument.
Harden has cleared this prop in the last two games, but topping out at 19 points in Game 3 despite playing 41 minutes is not an encouraging sign. If New York does indeed win its 11th straight game, a blowout feels rather likely. Eight of the Knicks’ last 10 wins have been blowouts.
A blowout in a series-clinching game typically cuts into starters’ minutes. Cutting into Harden’s minutes at all should doom his scoring, given that he has hardly scored in bunches in this series.
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This prop is likely already set at its actionable low, so the -102 are a delightful surprise.
Game 4 Prop #3: Miles McBride Over 5.5 points (+102)
A blowout should lead to only more minutes for Miles McBride. The Knicks guard is rarely the subject of prop bets, but there is still value in this.
Realize, New York has shown a penchant for closing series with firepower. It beat Atlanta by 51 points in a game that was not even that close. The 76ers fell by 30 points.
Routs lead to more minutes for McBride, obviously. Thus, he scored 25 points in 29 minutes in that farewell to Philadelphia.
This is very much a bet that the Knicks will win with ease tonight and give Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart some time to laugh and celebrate. McBride has already scored five points in each of the last two games. An additional shift on the court should spur him past this prop and into plus-money profit.
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