NBA odds, picks, best bets

There were some concerns after the Knicks' 132-109 loss to the Celtics in their season opener.

However, they settled some of those questions with an impressive 123-98 home win over the Pacers.

Even in their loss to Boston, the Knicks still shot 55 percent from the floor. They simply couldn't overcome a 44-point deficit behind the 3-point line.

Considering the Knicks shot at at least 50 percent in both games, there's reason for optimism when they host the undefeated Cavaliers on Monday night.

Cavaliers vs Knicks odds

Cavaliers outlook

Despite their 3-0 start, it's still too early to be overly optimistic about the Cavaliers.

After all, they won those games against the Raptors, Pistons and Wizards, three teams that are projected to win fewer than 30 games this season.

The squad is essentially the same as a year ago. Cleveland's offseason priority was to keep its core intact by giving contract extensions to Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and re-signing Isaac Okoro to a three-year deal.

There is another voice on the sidelines: Kenny Atkinson is taking over for JB Bickerstaff. Cleveland fired Bickerstaff following its loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Given Boston's dominance, it's hard to believe that Bickerstaff was the biggest obstacle to the Cavaliers' playoff ambitions.

As Cleveland continues to develop its younger players, the real question is whether Atkinson will be enough to compensate for the decision not to sign another veteran scorer on the free-agent market.

Knicks outlook

Friday's win over the Pacers showed just how potent this Knicks offense can be, as four of their five starters finished with 20 or more points. By distributing the ball, the Knicks can rely less on point guard Jalen Brunson.

While the offense will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention following the move for Karl-Anthony Towns, maintaining the defensive integrity of last season could lead to even greater success.

So holding a Pacers team that led the NBA in scoring last season to under 100 points was a step in the right direction.

The Knicks will welcome their next challenge against a Cleveland team that leads the league in scoring (128 points per game) and field goal percentage (54.5%).

It will be difficult for the Cavaliers to maintain such a high level when facing the better teams in the NBA.

The Knicks and Cavaliers play in a similar style in terms of their tempo, and as the game slows down, we will likely see a decline in Cleveland's offensive output.

Pacers vs. Knicks picks

This is a classic spot where you want to sell the Cavaliers high after their fast start against teams that will finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

There's also a strong connection to the Knicks being better suited in this matchup between teams that like to play slower.

Betting on the NBA?

The minors are 9-1 overall in the last 10 meetings, with the Knicks going 8-2 against the spread.

This matchup will be much more difficult for the Cavaliers and I expect them to struggle now that they have to move up in class against better opponents.

Best bet: Knicks -2.5 (-110, bet365)

Why should you trust New York Post Betting?

For the New York Post, Michael Arinze hinders most major sports. He has won two 15-leg teasers and a 12-leg parlay in his betting career, which spanned eight games of the Little League World Series. Most recently, he precisely selected the finalists for the 2024 European Championship and the Copa América.