The New York Knicks have dominated the Eastern Conference Final after falling behind in Game 1, using a furious comeback to win Game 1 in overtime before dominating Game 2 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Knicks are right on the cusp of the NBA Finals, while the Cavaliers need to win Saturday night in order to avoid a dreaded 3-0 deficit.
We've looked at the best bets for Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 3 with odds from FanDuel Sportsbook and recommendations from the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every game 10,000 times. The model entered the conference finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 26-10 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
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NBA Playoffs picks, best bets for Saturday, May 23
- Knicks money line
- Over 215.5
- Karl-Anthony Towns Over 16.5 points
- James Harden Over 6.5 assists
Knicks money line
New York has caught lightning in a bottle since going down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks, winning nine playoff games in a row. They have figured out their rotations, played excellent defense and are getting contributions up and down the roster. It's hard for Cleveland to pick who to contain because New York always seems to have someone else ready to step up. The Knicks win in 58% of model simulations, bringing value as plus-money underdogs.
Over 215.5
The first game went Over this number due to overtime, while the second game finished Under this total because the Cavaliers simply ran out of gas. Cleveland is averaging 114.6 points per game at home in the 2026 NBA Playoffs compared to 104.4 points per game on the road, so expect this Cavaliers offense to bounce back from a disappointing showing in Game 2. In particular, role players Sam Merrill and Dean Wade should elevate their game. The Over hits in 60.8% of simulations.
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 16.5 points
Towns quietly had 13 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the first game and dropped 18 points in the second. He's not getting many touches so far in this series, but he's making the most of those limited opportunities. Eventually, the Knicks will need him to have a big game to carry them through some tough offensive stretches. Towns is projected for 19.9 points on Saturday, and he averaged 19.8 points per game on the road during the regular season.
James Harden Over 6.5 assists
The SportsLine props model projects the future Hall of Famer for 6.9 assists on Saturday, which is surprising considering he has logged five combined assists over Games 1 and 2. The Knicks have targeted Harden defensively and he simply has not been able to make up for it on the offensive end. His struggles at the end of Game 1 were particularly noticeable. Perhaps a shift in scenery and the urgency of Game 3 will give him a boost like it did in the second round against the Pistons.
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