The Cleveland Cavaliers look to bounce back from an epic late-game collapse on Thursday, taking on the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden.
The Cavaliers held a 22-point lead with less than eight minutes to go in Game 1 — until Jalen Brunson turned James Harden into his own personal punching bag. The squad will need more from its prized trade-deadline acquisition, hoping to even up the series before it shifts to Cleveland.
Tipoff is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. New York is a 5.5-point home favorite with -205 moneyline odds, while Cleveland is a +170 underdog.
Ahead of Game 2, let’s dive into the top James Harden prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best James Harden Prop Bet for Cavaliers vs. Knicks Game 2
James Harden Over 24.5 Points + Assists (-122)
James Harden’s already questionable playoff reputation took another hit in Tuesday’s Game 1 loss to the Knicks. He was stranded on an island down the stretch against Jalen Brunson, who fueled a historic fourth-quarter comeback en route to a 115–104 overtime win.
Making matters worse, the former MVP — acquired at the trade deadline to bolster Cleveland’s championship aspirations — finished with only 15 points (5–16 FG, 1–8 3PT), four rebounds, three assists, and six turnovers in 42 minutes.
While he’s coming off back-to-back lackluster outings — he was limited to just nine points in Game 7 against the Pistons — Harden has still had a fairly impressive postseason run. The perennial All-Star is averaging 25.7 combined points and assists (P+A) in the playoffs, clearing 24.5 P+A in 10 of 14 matchups with Toronto and Detroit.
If his shooting woes persist, the two-time assist champ should tap back into his exceptional playmaking, fortifying a strong statistical floor. Count on Harden to bounce back Thursday night, recording more than 24.5 P+A in Game 2 at The Garden.
