A wild win at Madison Square Garden saw the Knicks shoot 15-for-20 (75 percent) down the stretch in Game 1 en route to a wild 44-11 run that closed the show.
We head into Game 2, where the Cavaliers know they let one slip away on Tuesday, and they’re still 7.5-point underdogs after losing 115-104.
Frankly, it’s tough to trust them again in Game 2, where the Knicks obviously found holes in the Cavaliers’ defense, led by a dismantling of James Harden on the perimeter.
The Knicks can do that all day long if they want to, and while Kenny Atkinson says that he is not considering benching Harden during key defensive moments, I’m not so sure I believe him after he watches the film.
Harden allowed 1.9 points per possession on nine fourth-quarter isolation plays when the primary defender. It’s an embarrassing number for the future Hall of Fame guard.
If he is on the bench for stretches of Game 2, it will be interesting to see how the Knicks pull their offense together.
Game 1 was a rock fight at times, though the total has stayed consistent in Game 2, coming in at 217.5, while Game 1 closed at 218.5.
The total for Game 1 ended at 219, and that included overtime.
If not for the wild comeback forcing overtime, we were looking at an easy under and possibly a total for Game 2 in the 210s.
I think there’s serious value on the under in Game 2, as both teams looked shoddy on offense, and I suspect the defensive black holes on the perimeter could be played off the floor.
Don’t forget that the Knicks’ lineup should do a better job slowing down Donovan Mitchell, who came out in Game 1 like a man possessed before disappearing late in the game.
Betting on the NBA?
Harden and Mitchell combined for 1-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter and overtime.
THE PLAY: Under 217.5 (-113. Kalshi)
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