Knicks vs Cavaliers Free Pick, NBA Free Picks, NBA Predictions 2/21/25
- J.A. Cavalier
- Feb 21
- 3 min read
NEW YORK @ CLEVELAND (CLE -8.5, 239.5)
NBA ODDS, NBA PREDICTIONS, NBA PREVIEWS
KNICKS @ CAVALIERS 2/21/25
When the Cleveland Cavaliers host the New York Knicks on Friday, Donovan Mitchell and the team hope to maintain their dominant play. In Thursday's 110-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in New York, Mitchell scored 26 points as Cleveland recorded its fifth consecutive victory and ninth in the previous ten games. In the nine games he has played during that time, the six-time All-Star has averaged 25 points per game.
On Thursday, former Net Jarrett Allen added 16 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, while Evan Mobley finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Darius Garland of Cleveland, not to be outdone, finished Thursday with 18 points and nine assists.
In the Cavaliers' last game against the Knicks, Mitchell, Mobley, Allen, and Garland all made important contributions. On October 28, Garland scored 34 points as Cleveland defeated New York 110-104. In that game, Mitchell scored 25 points, Mobley scored 17, and Allen finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
But the Cavaliers, who lead the Eastern Conference by 5.5 games over Boston, aren't resting on their laurels. They reportedly plan to add fellow forward Javonte Green following his buyout from the New Orleans Pelicans. They also acquired De'Andre Hunter earlier this month through a trade with the Atlanta Hawks.
Dean Wade will return to Cleveland on Friday, according to head coach Kenny Atkinson. Due to a bone bruise in his right knee, Wade has missed 11 straight games. Wade and his Cavaliers teammates will face a Knicks team that is on the rise.
On Thursday, New York defeated the visiting Chicago Bulls 113-111 in overtime thanks to Karl-Anthony Towns' 32 points and 18 rebounds. The Knicks recorded their third consecutive victory and their tenth in the previous twelve games thanks to 23 points from Miles McBride and 22 points and 12 assists from Jalen Brunson.
After starting the team's first 49 games, OG Anunoby missed his sixth consecutive game due to a right foot sprain. Josh Hart missed Thursday's game due to a sore right knee. In the previous game against Cleveland, Towns had 13 points and 10 rebounds before he fouled out. The Knicks were led by Brunson who had 21 points and 7 assists.
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COACH RICK FREE PICK:
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS UNDER 25.5 POINTS
Towns had a huge night last night. He shot 14-of-30 from the floor and had 32 points in a win over Chicago. Prior to the All-Star break, he had 40 and 44 against Indiana and Atlanta. But, tonight he goes up against Cleveland, a team that has held him in check recently. In the one game the two teams played this season, Towns had just 13 points and he wound up fouling out. In 12 games against the Cavs in his career, he’s averaged 21.8 points per game. Despite clearing tonight’s points prop number easily in each of his last three games, Towns has gone Under this number in 8 of his last 12 and he’s failed to exceed it in each of his last 6 games against a top-10 scoring defense.
