Cavaliers vs. Knicks Prediction and Odds for Sunday, December 4 (Cavs Shooting Is Huge Advantage)

The New York Knicks were embarrassed on Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks, getting outscored 41-15 in the third quarter in a 20-point loss at Madison Square Garden. 

The Knicks will attempt to rebound on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Donovan Mitchell. Cleveland won’t have Dean Wade (shoulder) or Jarrett Allen (back) in this game. The Knicks should be well rested after most of their starters sat the entire fourth quarter because of the blowout. 

New York ranks 26th in the NBA in defensive rating this season, and one has to think that head coach, Tom Thibodeau, is on the hot seat at the moment. 

Under Thibs, the Knicks have gone 20-9-1 against the spread in the second leg of a back-to-back, but do they have it in them to cover on Sunday?

Here are the latest odds for this matchup: 

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Odds, Spread and Total

Cavaliers vs. Knicks Prediction and Pick

The Knicks may be great in back-to-backs under Thibodeau, but this spread is way too short for my liking. 

New York has a significant disadvantage in the 3-point shooting department, ranking dead last in the NBA this season at 31.9 percent. Cleveland is No. 3 at 38.5 percent, and it torched the Knicks from 3 earlier this season. 

The other issue? The Knicks don’t defend the 3 well at all this season. 

Thibodeau may be coaching for his job in this game, but New York should be way more than a 3-point dog. 

With the Knicks back-to-back trend looming, I’m going to play this game safe and just take the Cavs on the moneyline to win. 

Cleveland is a much more talented team with Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, and the Knicks have gone just 3-12 against teams .500 or better. 

Fade them all day in this matchup. 

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.