Image copyright: Getty Images
New York Knicks v Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 NBA Regular Season
Saturday 2 April 2022
Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Tip-off at 19:00
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking to build up momentum in the run-in to the
NBA Regular Season when they lock horns with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on the evening of Saturday, April 2.
The Cavs are hoping to finish in the Eastern Conference top six, although they will need to improve in order to secure automatic qualification for the playoffs.
J.B. Bickerstaff's team are currently seventh in the East standings with a record of 42-33 and they trail the sixth-placed Toronto Raptors by a 0.013 win percentage.
Image copyright: Getty Images
Form-wise they haven't been great of late after winning just four of their last 10 games, although a 107-101 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday halted a run of three straight defeats.
Darius Garland led the charge against the Magic with 25 points and Bickerstaff praised his performance after the point guard combined with Lauri Markkanen for 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to clinch the win.
"Darius is a closer and he has the ability to make all the shots," the Cavaliers head coach said. "You look at teams that win - and most of these games come down to the fourth quarter - and they have a closer. Darius is at that level and it's an elite level."
The 11th-placed Knicks are making a late push for the playoffs after picking up six wins from their last 10 encounters, including four on the spin.
Image copyright: Getty Images
RJ Barrett scored 28 points and Alec Burks added another 27 as Tom Thibodeau's men beat the Chicago Bulls 109-104 in New York City on Tuesday to keep their faint playoff hopes alive.
"The big thing is we're playing all these young guys and they're getting valuable experience, and you're never eliminated until you're eliminated," Thibodeau said. "So I don't want a quitting spirit in our team."
The Cavaliers are 2-0 up in their meetings with the Knicks this season, although they won by just a two-point margin (95-93) most recently in January.
New York Knicks v Cleveland Cavaliers – Head-to-head, Regular Season
Games played: 218
Knicks wins: 116
Cavaliers wins: 102
Bet on Basketball at Betway
Kick off your sports betting journey with our exciting Sports Welcome Offer where you’ll get up to R1,000 as a Free Bet when you make your first deposit.
Never miss a basket when you bet on all the latest basketball action with Betway. Register an account today and bet on various sports such as soccer, rugby, tennis, basketball, golf and much more.