Thursday, February 23, 2017

Quicken Loans Arena

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The New York Knicks head to Quicken Loans Arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, February 23, 2017. The opening line for this game has Cleveland as 11 point favorites.

The Knicks come into this game with an overall record of 23-34. They are 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They currently have a point differential of -3.1 as they are averaging 106.1 points per game while giving up 109.2 per contest. The Cavaliers have an overall record of 39-16. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They are averaging 111.3 points per game and surrendering 106.0, good for a point differential of 5.4.

Kristaps Porzingis comes into this game averaging 18.3 points per contest while playing 33.1 minutes per night so far this year for the Knicks. He pulls down 7.1 rebounds per contest and dishes out 1.3 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 78%. Carmelo Anthony averages 23.4 points per game in 34 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.9 assists per contest and 6 rebounds per game for New York. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 82%.

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Lebron James averages 25.9 points per game while playing 37.5 minutes per contest this year for the Cavaliers. He grabs 7.7 rebounds per game and has 8.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 54% and his free throw percentage currently is at 69%. Kyrie Irving averages 24.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.2 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.1 rebounds per contest and 5.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage is 91%.

New York averages 106.1 points per contest this season which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -3.12 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team which has them ranked 20th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 14th in the league. They average 46 rebounds per game and 21.8 assists per game which ranks them 4th and 18th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 14.2 per game. The Knicks allow 109.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 25th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc ranking them 13th and 9th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 44.9 rebounds a game which ranks 24th and they give up 22.4 assists per contest which puts them in 11th place in the league. They force 12.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 5th in the league.

Cleveland averages 111.3 points per game this year which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 5.38 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team which has them sitting in the 7th spot in the league. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 2nd in the NBA. They average 44 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per contest which ranks them 10th and 15th respectively. In the turnover department the Cavaliers rank 15th with 13.9 per game. The Cavaliers allow 106 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc ranking them 16th and 18th in those defensive statistics. Opponents average 43.8 rebounds a game which ranks 17th and they give up 24.3 assists per contest which puts them in 27th place in the league. The Cavaliers force 13.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 12th in the NBA.

The Knicks have an offensive rating of 108.3 and a defensive rating of 111.5. In terms of pace they average 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes and their effective field goal percentage is 50%. As a team they have a true shooting percentage of 54% and they shoot 3 pointers on 29% of their shots. New York turns the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions and they force 11.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%.

The Cavaliers rating on offense is 114.2 and they have a defensive rating of 108.7. They get 96.8 possessions per 48 minutes and they have an effective field goal percentage of 54%. As a unit they have a true shooting percentage of 58% and they attempt 3 pointers on 39% of their shot attempts. Cleveland turns the ball over on 12.6 out of every 100 possessions and their opponents average 12.2 turnovers per 100 possessions. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the year is 51%.

New York Knicks Betting Trends

The New York Knicks are 30-27-0 against the spread

The New York Knicks are 31-26-0 against the over/under

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 26-27-2 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 32-23-0 against the over/under

New York Knicks Injuries

02/22/17 PG Brandon Jennings Achilles "?" Thursday vs. Cleveland
02/22/17 G Courtney Lee Illness "?" Thursday vs. Cleveland
02/21/17 C Joakim Noah Hamstring is downgraded to expected to miss Thursday vs Cleveland

Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/21/16 G J.R. Smith Thumb out indefinitely
12/16/16 F Chris Andersen ACL out for season
02/14/17 F Kevin Love Knee expected to miss 6 weeks

Tony's Pick: Take New York +11

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