Knicks vs. Cavaliers prediction: Cleveland to win, Donovan Mitchell projected for big game in Game 3 of ECF 2026
Get New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers predictions for NBA Playoffs Saturday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on Saturday, starting at 8:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations and today’s injury news, Dimers' advanced NBA model predicts the Cavaliers as the most likely winner of the Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 3 matchup.
This prediction follows the latest NBA Injury Report, which suggests the Cavaliers lineup will feature stars like Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley, while the Knicks will be led by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's matchup, including an expanded look at the predicted score, best bets and player prop picks.
Knicks vs. Cavs prediction: Who will win Game 3?
Our leading predictive model gives the Cavaliers a 60% chance of defeating the Knicks in Game 3 of the series. Our predicted final score in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals has the Cavaliers winning 108-105.
According to our model, the Cavaliers (-2.5) have a 51% chance of covering the spread, while the 214.5-point over/under has an equal 50-50 chance of hitting.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 3 odds
We have researched the best NBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Knicks | Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | +2.5 (-108) | -2.5 (-108) |
| Moneyline | +120 | -134 |
| Total | o214.5 (-118) | u214.5 (-104) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers picks and best bet for Game 3
After matching our predictions 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:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Cavaliers -2.5 | -108 |
| Moneyline | Cavaliers | -134 |
| Total | Under 214.5 | -104 |
According to our best NBA bets for Saturday, the top play to make on this game is Cavaliers to win.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Knicks vs. Cavaliers Game 3 player props
Looking for Knicks vs. Cavaliers NBA prop bets? We have crunched the numbers to project how each team's leading players will perform at Rocket Arena.
Jalen Brunson is expected to lead the Knicks with 25 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists, while Donovan Mitchell is projected to have 26 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Cavaliers.

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.
Knicks prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Knicks are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | 25 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 45 |
| K. Towns | 18 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 45 |
| OG Anunoby | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 33 |
| Mikal Bridges | 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 27 |
| Josh Hart | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 31 |
Cavaliers prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Cavaliers:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Mitchell | 26 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 44 |
| James Harden | 19 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 41 |
| Evan Mobley | 16 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 37 |
| Jarrett Allen | 13 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 29 |
| Max Strus | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
Knicks vs. Cavs Game 3 updates and essential details
Saturday's Game 3 between the Cavaliers and Knicks in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: Rocket Arena
- NBA Playoffs bracket: Updated NBA Playoffs bracket and schedule
The winner of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals will advance to the NBA Finals. Game 3 of the best-of-seven series between the Knicks and Cavaliers is at Cleveland's Rocket Arena.
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Conclusion
We predict the Cavaliers, with a 60% win probability, will likely beat the Knicks in Game 3 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.
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