Best betting promos and sportsbooks for NBA prop bets [May 19, 2026]

The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers tip off the Eastern Conference finals tonight at Madison Square Garden.

The Cavaliers went the distance in round two, and are now sizable underdogs against a Knicks team who’ve reached this stage for a second consecutive year.

Unfortunately for the Cavs, they face off against a defense who excels in coverage, making them vulnerable to falling into prolonged scoring lulls throughout the contest.

Even though there is just one game tipping off on Tuesday night, there are still a wide range of prop bets to groom through which you can read a detailed breakdown of them below.

Best betting promos and sportsbooks for NBA prop bets

Find the best promos and sportsbooks to use for today’s NBA prop bets.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks (8:00pm, EST)

Cleveland Cavaliers Team Total Under 104.5 (-110) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Since the start of the regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been efficient on offense, entering the postseason ranked above league average in Adjusted Offensive Rating.

Their high level of play helps drastically reduce the amount of negative variance in their contests, making it easier for them to set a scoring pace too fast for their opponents to keep up with to help secure the win.

Heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against the New York Knicks, negative regression looms large over the Cavs as they battle it out against a defense who resides near the top of the board in Defensive Efficiency and in Opposing Effective Field Goal Percentage.

With the Cavs incapable of pulling them into the interior, the Knicks will be able to stretch out their guards to cover more ground around the perimeter and contest their shots for the full duration of the contest.

Jalen Brunson Over 26.5 Points (-121) at Caesars Sportsbook

On the other side of the court, Jalen Brunson has been one of the more versatile scoring guards in the playoffs, averaging 27.4 Points per game while shooting 40.9% from three and 48.5% from the floor.

With the Knicks offense running through Brunson, they have been one of the more dominant units in the league, ranking near the top of the board in Offensive Efficiency.

In a favorable matchup against the Cavs, expect Brunson to continue to light up the scoreboard by taking advantage of a defense who ranks below league average in Adjusted Defensive Rating and in Opposing Three Point Completion Percentage.

With the Cavs struggling to face guard, Brunson will be able to consistently break away from their coverage, improving the quality of his shot attempts at all three levels of the court.

Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 Three Pointers Made (+125) at BetMGM Sportsbook

When Brunson is able to pull his assignment in pick and pop sets, Karl-Anthony Towns has been able to capitalize on the extra space around the three point line, shooting 48.3% from the perimeter.

With the Cavs forced to shade their coverage towards the middle, Towns will be able to generate a heavier volume of high quality shot attempts from three, increasing his chances of clearing the over on his Three Pointers Made prop.

Karl-Anthony Towns Under 11.5 Rebounds (-135) at BetMGM Sportsbook

Not only has Towns been efficient from three, but he has also been productive on the glass, averaging 10.0 Rebounds per game throughout the playoffs.

With the Cavs fielding two true bigs in their rotation, Towns will be forced to combat against more bodies in the interior, leading to a decline in his total number of Rebound Opportunities. Especially with Towns potentially anchoring around the perimeter this series, pulling him away from the rim.

About the author

Kody Malstrom

Kody Malstrom is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with six years of experience covering a vast majority of sports. He covers football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and the UFC in written and video form.

Born and raised in Michigan, Kody is a Detroit sports fan who spends all of his Sundays in the fall rooting for the Detroit Lions and Saturdays watching as much College Football as possible. In the winter, he shifts his focus to the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons while simultaneously rooting for his North Carolina Tar Heels.

When he is not staring at betting markets, you can find Kody at the beach or snowboarding down a mountain, depending on the time of the year.

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