Cavaliers vs. Knicks prediction: New York to win, Jalen Brunson projected for big game in Thursday's NBA matchup [12/25/2025]

The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are scheduled to meet in NBA action at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day, with tipoff at 12:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results and today’s injury reports, Dimers' proven NBA model projects the Knicks as the most likely winner of the Cavaliers vs. Knicks game.

This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Knicks lineup will feature players like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby, while the Cavaliers will be led by Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and De'Andre Hunter.

This article offers a closer look at Thursday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.

Cavs vs. Knicks prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Thursday's NBA matchup between the Cavaliers and Knicks 10,000 times as part of our NBA predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Knicks a 66% chance of beating the Cavaliers. Our predicted final score has the Knicks winning 122-117.

According to our model, the bookmakers have got it right, and the Cavaliers and Knicks each have a 50% chance of covering the spread, while the 242.5-point over/under has a 55% chance of staying under.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds

We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

According to our best NBA bets for Thursday, the top play to make on this game is Knicks to win.

Cavaliers vs. Knicks player props

Betting on Cavaliers vs. Knicks NBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Madison Square Garden.

Donovan Mitchell is expected to lead the Cavaliers with 28 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Jalen Brunson is projected to have 29 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists for the Knicks.

Check out our NBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's NBA first basket picks.

Cavaliers prediction

Our model's projected player stats for the Cavaliers are:

Knicks prediction

Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Knicks:

Cavs vs. Knicks game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's game between the Knicks and Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden is scheduled to commence at 12:00 PM ET.

• Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
• Date: Thursday, December 25, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM ET/9:00AM PT
• Venue: Madison Square Garden

Conclusion

We predict the Knicks, with a 66% win probability, will likely beat the Cavaliers on Christmas Day, with Donovan Mitchell projected for a game-high 48 fantasy points.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Cavaliers vs. Knicks insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from up-to-date data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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