The New York Knicks (20*-9) tip off the NBA’s Christmas Day slate at noon ET, hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) at Madison Square Garden.
It’s a matchup between two Eastern Conference playoff teams.
New York suffered an unsurprising loss in Minnesota on Tuesday, while the Cavs beat Pelicans 141-108. The Knicks have been one of the league’s most consistent teams over the past month. They’re 7–3 in their last 10, boast a top-five offense, and have been dominant at MSG.
The Cavs have won just five of their last 13 games. Injuries to key frontcourt pieces have hurt the Cavs’ rebounding and interior defense, pushing them toward a perimeter-heavy identity. They rate 10th for offense and 16th for defense. They take the league’s most field goals (92.8) and three-pointers per game (43.9), but shoot only 46% and 35%. They play fast, score a lot of points on high-volume shooting, steal the ball a fair amount, and protect the ball. Otherwise, their stats are Basketball-Reference.com are mostly middling.
In their last meeting, on October 22, the New York Knicks swatted the Ohio Players 119-111 in their season opener at MSG under new coach Mike Brown. OG Anunoby led with 24 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brunson added 23 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 19 points and 11 boards. The Knicks built a 17-point halftime lead, but Cleveland mounted a comeback fueled by Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points (21 in the third quarter) and Evan Mobley’s 22. New York’s decisive 14-0 fourth-quarter run sealed the win.
Cleveland will be without Mobley, Max Strus, and Larry Nance Jr., leaving them thin up front. Lonzo Ball is a game-time decision. For New York, Brunson, OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, and Guerschon Yabusele are all listed as game-time decisions, while Landry Shamet remains out.
Prediction
ESPN.com likes the Knicks at 61%. That’s better than a lump of coal. Cleveland’s strategy will be to throw up a lot of shots and try to control the rhythm of the game. With Evan Mobley sidelined, the Knicks have a clear edge on the glass. If they can turn missed threes into rebounds and second-chance points, the odds shift quickly in their favor.
In the end, the game will most likely revolve around Brunson and Spida. Both rank among the league’s top scorers, and this promises to be an exciting battle between two gunslingers. Who wins a Christmas Day matinee in front of a raucous holiday crowd? Gotta be the Knicks! By eight. Ho ho ho.
Game Details
Teams: New York Knicks (20*-9) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14)
Date: Thursday, December 25, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: ESPN and ABC
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
