The New York Knicks upset the higher-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games in the first round of the 2023 Eastern Conference playoffs, and the teams meet for the first time since on Tuesday night. The Cavs opened as -2.5 home favorites on the SportsLine consensus, but that has swung all the way to the Knicks being 3.5-point favorites because Cleveland will be without All-Stars Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen at a minimum -- and Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert could sit as well. The total has dropped from 216 to 212.5.
Allen averaged 14.3 points per game on 64.4% shooting last year along with 9.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks to earn his first All-Star nod but hasn't played yet this season due to a bone bruise on his left ankle. He returned to practice Monday but evidently isn't ready for game action just yet. Garland played in the season-opening win over the Nets but hasn't seen the floor since due to a hamstring issue. Cleveland has gone 0-2 without Garland. He was unable to practice Monday.
Mitchell, who originally wanted to be traded from Utah to the Knicks, missed Saturday's loss to the Pacers with a hamstring injury but did practice Monday and is questionable. He's second in the league in scoring at 35.0 PPG while shooting 54.2% from the field.
Dating to March 28, Mitchell has scored at least 40 points in five of his last six regular-season games. He has 14 games of at least 40 points since joining the Cavs, which is already the second-most in franchise history. Mitchell is set at over/under 31.5 points for Tuesday, and that he's even listed tells you the sportsbooks expect him to play.
LeVert was downgraded to questionable with left hamstring soreness. He tallied 31 points, eight assists and five rebounds in 44 minutes while starting for Garland on Saturday. It was his 17th career game with at least 30 points and third 30-point game with Cleveland. His 22 points in the first quarter tied his career high for points in an opening period. Backup guard Ty Jerome is also out with a sprained right ankle.
The Knicks aren't listing anyone on the injury report. New York suffered an ugly 96-87 loss at New Orleans on Saturday in the second game of a back-to-back. The team needs a lot more from All-Star Julius Randle, who is averaging only 13.7 points per game, shooting 27.7% from the field and 30% from deep. He is set at O/U 20.5 points tonight.
"I mean, duh," New York's RJ Barrett said to the New York Post about the Cavs' extra motivation for the playoff loss. "But it's fun. It's a team we were able to beat in the playoffs. I know from my experience when we lost to Atlanta [in 2021], when we saw them we were extra motivated to go and play them. We know what kind of energy they're going to bring to the game, but we're excited, too. I think it's going to be a good two games."
These teams play again Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
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