Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks Prediction & Preview - 12/25/2025
Updated July 9, 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers head to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Thursday afternoon in the first of five Christmas Day games in the NBA. New York enters this game as a home favorite with one of the best records in the Eastern Conference, while Cleveland has had a disappointing start to their season. With both teams looking to enjoy a merry Christmas at the Garden, you can find my Cavaliers vs Knicks prediction below.
Pick: | Knicks -5.5 |
Confidence: | 4/5 |
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The Knicks enter this Christmas Day game with a 20-9 record and a 14-2 mark at home. New York’s offense has been efficient, averaging over 120 points per game while shooting nearly 48% from the field. Despite a recent loss to the Timberwolves in which Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby were rested, the Knicks are expected to have their key pieces available for this marquee matchup and will be all-in on getting another Christmas Day victory. New York’s perimeter shooting and transition defense make them a difficult opponent for teams that rely heavily on three-point scoring and the new-found depth of the Knicks could help them to beat a banged-up Cavs team.
The Cavaliers sit at 17-14 and are coming off a high-scoring win over the Pelicans. Cleveland’s offensive firepower is apparent, led by Donovan Mitchell’s team-high 30.6 points per game and Darius Garland’s playmaking. The Cavaliers are making plenty of three-pointers, ranking among the league leaders in attempts, but they are dealing with significant injuries. Evan Mobley, a key defensive anchor, is questionable with a calf issue, and Max Strus and Larry Nance Jr. are listed as out. These absences make Cleveland more vulnerable on both ends of the floor, and Mobley being unable to play would be devastating to their chances in this contest.
Player | Prop |
|---|---|
Donovan Mitchell | Under 30.5 points |
Jalen Brunson | Over 29.5 points |
Karl-Anthony Towns | Over 1.5 threes |
Score Projection: Knicks 123 – Cavaliers 114
Win Probability: Knicks 68%, Cavaliers 32%
I am going to lay the points with the Knicks in this Christmas Day contest against the Cavaliers. The Cavs not having Evan Mobley at 100% is a huge blow to their defensive identity, which will cause problems against a Knicks team that has been incredible at home this year. Look for New York to start the NBA's annual Christmas Day slate with a win and a cover on their home floor.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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