New York Knicks vs Cleveland-cavaliers Picks and Predictions April 11th 2025

Knicks Aim to Lock Up No. 3 Seed in Final Home Test vs. Cavs

The New York Knicks have one more chance to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference—and they’ll get it Friday night against the league-leading Cleveland Cavaliers, who have already secured the top seed.

Both teams are coming off losses on Thursday, though the Knicks’ 115-106 setback to the Detroit Pistons was more about rest than results. With a first-round matchup against Detroit looming, New York (50-30) opted to sit OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mitchell Robinson, and limited Jalen Brunson to just 29 minutes in his third game back from injury.

“You’ve just got to be ready to play… Whoever they have out there, whoever we have out there, that’s the challenge,”

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– Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau on navigating late-season rotation changes.

Despite the loss, the Knicks remain one game ahead of the fourth-place Pacers and hold the tiebreaker in the standings. A win over Cleveland on Friday would officially lock in the No. 3 seed, ensuring home-court advantage in the first round.

But the opponent is far from a pushover—even with key starters likely sidelined.

Cleveland (63-17) already clinched the East’s top seed with a dominant win over the Bulls earlier this week. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has shifted to injury management mode, giving stars like Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Max Strus rest days. Mitchell, still nursing a sprained left ankle, has now missed two straight.

“I’d rather him err on the side of caution,”

– Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson on Mitchell’s injury status.

Despite trotting out a lineup of reserves on Thursday, Cleveland nearly came back from a late deficit before falling 114-112 to Indiana. Jarrett Allen remains a constant, starting his 80th game of the season, while players like De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome, and Dean Wade stepped up with extended minutes.

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The Knicks, however, would benefit greatly from a bounce-back performance—not just to clinch playoff position, but to make a statement. New York is 0-3 against Cleveland this season and just 1-10 against the NBA’s four best teams (Cleveland, Boston, OKC, and Houston). Their last two losses to the Cavs were particularly lopsided, including a 142-105 drubbing on Feb. 21 and a 124-105 defeat on April 2.

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With playoff seeding on the line and a need to prove they can hang with the NBA’s elite, Friday’s finale at Madison Square Garden carries more than just statistical weight.

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