Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 4 Pick, Prediction, Odds
On Monday, May 25, the Cleveland Cavaliers will look to avoid getting swept when they host the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the 2025-26 Eastern Conference Finals. Will the Cavaliers be able to shrug off three embarrassing performances and put one win on the board? Find out in our Knicks vs. Cavaliers betting preview. Also, check out our VSiN NBA Playoffs Betting Hub for all of our NBA postseason content.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have!
How To Watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 4
When: 8:10 pm ET on Monday, May 25
Where: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio
Channel: ESPN
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 4 Odds
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of 11:00 am ET on Monday, May 25
Moneyline: Knicks -142, Cavaliers +120
Spread: Knicks -2.5 (-115), Cavaliers +2.5 (-105)
Total: Over 218.5 (-112), Under 218.5 (-108)
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 4 Picks
This is setting up to be one of the most intriguing games of the postseason. That’s not because Cleveland looks like a team that can come back from a three-game deficit. No team in NBA history has accomplished that, and it’d be surprising if this specific Cavaliers group can be the first. However, this is one of the most drastic “Pros vs. Joes” games in recent memory. Whether you’re looking at DraftKings Sportsbook or Circa Sports, our VSiN betting splits pages show an outrageous amount of public support for the Knicks. Depending on where you look, you can find as many as 95% of public bettors flocking to the New York side. However, it does look like the sharp money in this game is coming in on Cleveland, and the Cavaliers sure as hell look like a need for the sportsbooks. On top of that, since 2005, teams that trail 0-3 in the Conference Finals and NBA Finals are 10-5-1 against the spread in Game 4s. That said, being on the Knicks side means being alright with taking the “sucker” play and ignoring history. For me, that’s not an issue.
You never want to make a habit of going against sharp bettors. Those are professionals for a reason. However, just like everyone else, those bettors do lose rather often. So, the fact that they’re backing the Cavaliers doesn’t mean that taking the Knicks means an automatic loss.
Honestly, I was as high on Cleveland’s chances as anyone heading into this series, and the team has simply sucked the life out of me. And towards the end of Game 3, as the Cavaliers moped around the floor and allowed the Knicks to make uncontested runs at the basket, I quickly looked around for the best numbers and pounced on New York to win Game 4 outright. And what I put in was my biggest single-game play of the postseason, backing the Knicks to win 2.5 units. I ended up finding -113 at one of the prediction markets, but I’d be willing to play New York up to -140.
The Cavaliers just haven’t had any answers for the Knicks offense. New York’s 122.9 offensive rating in the playoffs is higher than Denver’s league-best offensive rating of 121.2 during the regular season, and that simply shouldn’t be possible with the increased physicality and motivation of playoff defenses. But the Knicks haven’t been bothered by who they have seen in the Eastern Conference thus far, and this Cavaliers team isn’t an exception.
Of course, New York could be due for some shooting regression, with Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby doing outrageous work with their jumpers. Meanwhile, Cleveland is likely due for some positive regression, which is why Kenny Atkinson noted that his team should be up 2-1 based on expected points. But this Knicks team is full of absolute warriors, while this Cavaliers group is a little soft. With that in mind, I’m not sure why Game 4 will be any different than what we saw in Game 3. New York should be the tougher and more motivated side, and the Knicks have been out-executing the Cavaliers. That’s enough for me to ignore the betting splits and go heavy on New York. I’m also sprinkling some New York -9.5 on an alternate spread.
This is also a game in which I’m turning to the props market. I’m riding Karl-Anthony Towns to go Over 4.5 assists, which is something he has hit in two of the three games in this series. He has also had at least five assists in nine of the 13 playoff games he has played this year. On top of that, I’m adding a little on Towns to have Over 1.5 assists in the first quarter at +155. He has had at least two dimes in eight of the 13 games he has played this postseason, and I do think there’s a chance the Cavaliers come out with nothing to offer defensively. That would make it easy for Towns, who has been awesome as a playmaking hub, to pick them apart. Another player I’m backing is Josh Hart, who should be able to go Over 6.5 rebounds tonight. It’s a little juicy at -140, but Pinnacle has it closer to -170. That’s the sharpest book there is, so we’re getting a bit of a discount in the states. Hart is averaging 8.5 rebounds per game in these playoffs, plus he has had seven or more rebounds in two of the three games in this series. Hart is once again finding ways to contribute offensively, meaning he’s getting his normal minutes. Well, when he’s out there, he’s going to rebound. He’s New York’s hardest working player, and he’s an elite rebounding wing.
Bet: Knicks ML (-113 – 2.5 units)
Bet: Knicks Alt -9.5 (+260 – 0.5 units)
Bet: Towns Over 4.5 Assists (-131)
Bet: Towns Over 1.5 First Quarter Assists (+155 – 0.5 units)
Bet: Hart Over 6.5 Rebounds (-140)
