The 2025-26 NBA season for the Knicks gets underway Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, as the Blue and Orange host their conference rival, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The post-Tom Thibodeau era officially begins, and if the preseason was any indication, the Knicks are aware of what title aspirations are rumbling through midtown Manhattan.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and co. are prepared to erase last season’s letdown in the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers.
It all starts Wednesday night for the Knicks and, more importantly, new head coach Mike Brown.
Let’s dive into the best bet and prediction for this potential Eastern Conference finals matchup, with Cleveland a 1.5-point road favorite at FanDuel.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers best bet, prediction
It’ll be a coaching reunion for Brown and Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, as the two served on the Golden State Warriors’ braintrust under Steve Kerr a few seasons ago.
Atkinson completely restructured Cleveland’s game plan last season, allowing more pace and space, elevating their offense to the league’s highest-scoring average (121.9 ppg).
Starting point guard Darius Garland stepped into his own, while frontcourt assets Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen benefited from a healthy dose of pick-and-roll action.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, Garland is sidelined for an early portion of the year due to a big toe injury. Former Lakers and Bulls guard Lonzo Ball was acquired in the offseason to fill his spot. In addition to Ball, the Cavs backcourt is anchored by six-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell.
One of the most dynamic scorers in today’s game, Mitchell has always demonstrated a jump-out-of-the-gym ability, but now his perimeter 3-point consistency is just as deadly.
The Louisville product has scored 25-plus points in five straight contests against the Knicks.
Add it all up and Cleveland is primed for another season atop the East.
Betting on the NBA?
While the Cavs have eyes on replicating last season’s success, I see Brunson and fellow Villanova Wildcat Mikal Bridges leaving their fingerprints on this contest.
Brunson enters his fourth campaign as a Knick, and the success of this team is predicated squarely on his shoulders. Last season, he led the team, averaging 26 points per contest in addition to a career-best 7.6 assists.
Brown has adopted a mantra learned from Kerr: Let your point guard control the pace and find shooters in rhythm. That’s where the aforementioned Towns, Bridges and exceptional wing defender OG Anunoby come into play.
Last season, the Knicks ranked 27th in 3-point attempts (34.1) and tied 24th in 3-pointers made (12.6). The preseason has shown these numbers will definitely increase under Brown.
In Friday’s finale against the Hornets, Brunson attempted 12 shots from beyond the arc, making six of them on his way to a 31-point outing.
There is considerable anticipation to see how well the Knicks’ new-look offense performs on opening night. However, key defenders Josh Hart and Mitchell Robinson will not play in this contest.
This will open the door for key reserves Deuce McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele to see the court. These players fit very well into Brown’s fast-paced, read-and-react playbook.
Expect fireworks in the Garden, since this has all the makings of a high-scoring affair. I’m eyeing the Over and the Knicks to secure a win on opening night.
The Play: SGP — Knicks moneyline + Over 228.5 total points (+260, FanDuel)
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Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
