Christmas tips off early with a battle between two Eastern Conference contenders. It’s been a tough first few months for the Cavaliers, owners of a 17-14 record. However, Cleveland still possesses the other-worldly talents of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in its backcourt. On the flip side, it’s been a terrific start the Knicks, capped off this month with an NBA Cup championship. Now, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will try to earn another victory at Madison Square Garden.
In this potential postseason preview, which stars will come through at MSG? The Knicks are favored by 6.5 points (-110) over the Cavaliers, with the over/under set at 239.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s Cleveland vs. New York matchup.
Cavaliers vs. Knicks prop bet picks
Darius Garland 3+ three-pointers made (-106)
Injuries and inconsistent play have held Garland back in 2025. Still, the guard remains one of the sport’s most dangerous players on offense. Evan Mobley (calf) is questionable, meaning there’s likely one less mouth to feed on Cleveland’s offense. Other than the previously mentioned Mitchell, the Cavaliers are lacking high-level scorers. Through 15 games this season, Garland is averaging 17.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists while shooting 40% from the field. Those numbers, while unimpressive, should improve over time.
What better way to snap out of a funk than under the bright lights of New York City? Garland has been a respectable shooter from deep, hitting over 35% of his three-point attempts. He’ll look to improve upon that mark against one of the NBA’s weakest perimeter defenses. The Knicks are allowing 14.5 three-pointers made per game to opponents, fifth-most in basketball. In four of his previous five outings, Garland has knocked down at least three shots from deep. At nearly even money, I’m expecting the two-time All-Star to deliver a vintage performance in the Big Apple.
Karl-Anthony Towns 11+ rebounds (-130)
Much like Garland, it’s been an inconsistent season for Karl-Anthony Towns. Granted, his numbers aren’t too shabby: 22.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. However, the big man has vacillated between terrible and terrific shooting performances. Look no further than this past week. On Sunday vs. Miami, KAT only scored two points; two days later vs. Minnesota, he dropped 40. 48/36/86 shooting splits aren’t bad, but they do represent a statistical decline for the 30-year-old.
Whether or not he puts up buckets, Towns is still talented enough to contribute for the Knicks. As previously mentioned, Evan Mobley may not be taking the floor. Without the former Defensive Player of the Year, Cleveland’s front court is weaker, especially on the glass. The Cavaliers have given up 55.6 rebounds per game to opponents, seventh-most in the NBA. Most of that came with Mobley in the starting lineup, as well. Towns has hauled in 11 or more boards in 17 of his 27 appearances this season. New York’s superstar has a solid chance at earning another double-double on Thursday.
