Anthony, New York mired in massive slump
For weeks, the Cavaliers and Knicks have been bandied about as potential trade partners. Tonight, the two squads actually get to match up on the court.
Scuffling New York welcomes Cleveland to town for a nationally televised tilt at 8:30 p.m. ET. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives LeBron James & Co. odds of -320 to take care of business on the road. Jeff Hornacek’s troops, on the other hand, represent +260 underdogs.
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After going 7-8 in January, the Cavs looked more like their usual selves Wednesday during a 125-97 rout of Minnesota. James scored 27 points with 12 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and one block across 34 minutes. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving had 14 points and a career-high 14 dimes.
In the Big Apple, Carmelo Anthony rumors continue to outnumber wins. The Knicks are just 6-16 since Dec. 25. Anthony seems genuinely unnerved by the off-the-floor chatter, too, as the nine-time All-Star’s shooting 44 percent over his past five contests.
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To make matters worse, point guard Derrick Rose remains sidelined due to a left ankle sprain. His temporary replacement in the starting lineup, Brandon Jennings, prefers to shoot first and ask questions later. Such an approach won’t yield much success against Cleveland and its reinvigorated defense. Look for the visiting crew to win rather easily.
SATURDAY NBA FREE PICK: CAVALIERS/KNICKS UNDER 217 POINTS