Cavs and Suns to Win Game 2 Based on this NBA Playoffs Trend

• Since the 2021 NBA Playoffs, home teams that lost Game 1 have has great success in Game 2.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns each lost Game 1 on their home courts.
• Oddsmakers are predicting that Cleveland (-235) and Phoenix (-360) will even their respective series.

CLEVELAND – Teams that lost Game 1 at home are 10-1 outright in Game 2 dating back to the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Those teams won by 16+ points in six of those 10 wins.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 6-point favorites against the New York Knicks for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first round matchup.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks

• Moneyline: Cavaliers (-235) vs Knicks (+195)
• Spread: Cavaliers -6
• Total: 214

The public is expecting the Cavs to even the series, receiving 74% of money line bets placed on NBA sportsbooks. Josh Hart’s impact off the bench was one of the Knicks keys to victory at the end of Game 1 but is unlikely to repeat in Game 2.

Hart’s 17-point performance was his highest point total since he scored 27 on February 13. In the regular season against the Cavaliers, Hart averaged 8 points across three matchups.

The Cavaliers have good motivation to cover as 6-point favorites despite their 1-4 record against the spread vs the New York Knicks this season.

Phoenix Suns (-8) vs Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were able to cash their +257 money line odds against the Western Conference favorite Phoenix Suns in Game 1. The story of the game was the Clippers bench, who outscored the Suns bench 34-10.

The loss snapped the Suns eight-game win streak with Kevin Durant in the starting lineup. The Suns are in good position to cover their 8-point spread for Game 2 based on their success at home.

The Phoenix Suns went 14-6 outright a home in their last 20 games and haven’t lost back-to-back home games since January 8.

The recent dominant history of home teams in Game 2 after a loss gives value at legal sports betting sites to the Phoenix Suns’ 8-point spread.