The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks meet on October 22 at Madison Square Garden to start the 2025-26 season. Cleveland is coming off a strong year but will be without Darius Garland, who is out with a toe injury. Donovan Mitchell leads the way for the Cavs, with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen holding down the frontcourt. Cleveland won the last matchup against New York, a close win at the Garden in October.<\/p>
The Knicks return with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns as their main options, aiming to build on last season’s 51 wins. Depth and home support will be key as they try to flip the recent trend against Cleveland. With both teams starting fresh, this opener is a chance to set the tone for two Eastern Conference contenders.<\/p>
Game Details<\/strong><\/p> The Cleveland Cavaliers enters opening night without Darius Garland, who is sidelined after toe surgery, and Max Strus, who is also out until December. That leaves Donovan Mitchell as the clear offensive engine, supported by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside. The Cavaliers showed in preseason that they can dominate the paint, but their perimeter depth is thin, and scoring balance will be a concern against a Knicks team that thrives on pressuring guards.<\/p>\n
Recommended Bets and Updated Odds<\/h2>
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\n \n Category<\/th>\n Bet<\/th>\n FanDuel<\/th>\n BetMGM<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n \n First Basket<\/td>\n Jalen Brunson<\/td>\n +500<\/td>\n +630<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n \n Player Points 20+<\/td>\n Donovan Mitchell<\/td>\n -460<\/td>\n -320<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n \n Score 10+<\/td>\n Karl-Anthony Towns<\/td>\n -5000<\/td>\n -3200<\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n<\/table> Analysis and Rationale<\/h2>