The New York Knicks will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference game on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, seeking a season sweep. The Knicks, third in the East with a 37-21 record, recently defeated Chicago 105-99, while the Cavaliers, fourth at 36-22, lost 121-113 to Oklahoma City. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The matchup pits two closely ranked Eastern Conference teams against each other, with the Knicks holding a slight edge in the standings. New York enters with a 14-13 road record, coming off a narrow victory over the Bulls on Sunday. Cleveland, boasting a strong 19-11 home record, aims to rebound from their loss to the Thunder the same day.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Cavaliers are 4-point favorites, with a moneyline of -168 for Cleveland and +141 for New York. The over/under total is set at 232.5 points. The game will stream on Peacock.
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates each NBA game 10,000 times and has a track record of over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on top-rated picks over eight-plus seasons, offers insights into the contest. The model is leaning over the total of 232.5 points, noting that the over has hit in the last two head-to-head meetings between the teams, three of the Knicks' last five games, and four of the Cavaliers' last six.
Projections highlight key performers: Jalen Brunson is expected to average 25.6 points for New York, with five Knicks players scoring 11.2 or more points. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell is projected at 25.9 points, with four Cavaliers players reaching 14.3 or more. The model forecasts a combined total of 237 points, with the over succeeding in 54% of simulations.
The model also identifies value on one side of the spread, though specific picks require visiting SportsLine. This game represents a critical test for both teams in the playoff race.
