Knicks vs. Cavaliers NBA player prop pick: Karl-Anthony Towns rebounds, Digi Mart USA News: Karl-Anthony Towns has been a force on the glass to open the NBA season, and there is good reason to believe that will continue Saturday night against the Cavaliers.
With Mitchell Robinson out of the lineup, the Knicks big man is averaging 13.6 rebounds through eight games, well above the 11.6 he averaged last season. He has been especially dominant on the boards of late, grabbing at least 12 rebounds in five consecutive games while averaging 14.6 over that stretch.
Towns pulled down 12 boards in Wednesday’s 135-105 blowout of the Bulls despite playing just 25 minutes. In what figures to be a much more competitive matchup against a fellow Eastern Conference contender, Towns should have an opportunity to collect even more rebounds on Saturday.
The NBA schedule also works in the Knicks’ favor. New York will have had two full days of rest since its victory over Chicago, while Cleveland faces the 76ers on Friday before hosting the Knicks in the second half of a back-to-back.
Cleveland’s injury situation could make matters worse on the boards. Starting center Jarrett Allen, who ranks second on the team with 7.8 rebounds per game, is dealing with a right knee contusion that forced him out early in Wednesday’s game against the Thunder, and his availability for this game is in question.
Even if Allen plays, Towns will come in with fresh legs against a Cleveland team that is not at full strength and is playing its third game in four nights.
The pick: Karl-Anthony Towns over 12.5 rebounds (-130, DraftKings Sportsbook).
