Knicks-Cavaliers Series Preview

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 5/19/2026

Photo by Ken Blaze via Imagn Images

Overview

Different from the Western Conference Finals, the final Series out of the East won't feature either of it's Top 2 seeds.

The Knicks come into the series as the 3-seed and winners of their last 7 games in a row. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are entering their first ECF without Lebron since 1992 and have already been through 2 grueling, 7-game series this postseason.

The series will start tonight at MSG and will feature the Knicks as 7-point favorites as well as the Knicks being series' favorites at -265.

Don't count the Cavaliers out yet though, their Big 3 of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and James Harden have been nothing if not resilient this postseason. Led mostly by Mitchell who leads the team with 25.6 points per game, the Cavs won't say die and won 3 of the final 4 games in the Pistons' series to make it here.

On the other side, the Knicks haven't been carried by one player and have been firing on all cylinders. Since the Knicks went down in the Hawks' series 2-1, they have won 7 in a row against them and the 76ers and have scored over 125 points per game in that stretch.

Brunson's 27 and 6 is leading the team in points and assists but guy like KAT, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart have been playing perfect team basketball too. Even bench warmers Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell Robinson have been playing their part and giving great minutes on both offense and defense when called on.

Keys to Victory

This series should be a lot closer than the Knicks have seen as of late and right up the alley of what the Cavs are used to. For the Knicks, they will need to simply keep their offensive momentum. Playing team basketball and moving the ball to the open man has worked well for them so far and particularly should in this series when you'll have James Harden on one of Brunson, Hart or Anunoby. The matchup in the post between KAT and Mobley is one that KAT won't be able to score consistently on so keeping the ball around the perimeter should be their prerogative.

And opposingly for the Cavaliers, they will need to control the paint and do better from beyond the arc. In my Conference Semi-Finals Preview, I spoke on how the Cavs have been poor in shooting 3's in the first round and that didn't improve much in their last series. Mitchell and Harden are both shooting less than 34% from the arc and the stars had to get bailed out by role players like Max Strus multiple times against Philly. As for their defense, the Cavs have their work cut out for them controlling the backcourt but Mobley and Allen are one of the best front courts in the game and need to play physical and above the rim. If they can neutralize KAT and force the Knicks to shoot from 3, they may be able to steal a game here or there.

Predictions

Ultimately, I see the Knicks winning the series in 6 and making their first Finals appearance since 1999. The Knicks are the hottest offensive team left in the Playoffs and that includes both teams from the West. The Cavaliers are a scrappy team that plays hard but with their backcourt not being good defenders anyway, I see the Knicks running them out of town in the first 2 games. The Cavs should play hard and force a gritty win or two back in Cleveland but the Knicks are too good and won't be outscored more than twice in this series.

Side note: The Spurs are the best defensive team right now and should be able to hold the Knicks in a potential Finals series, but I'm not even sure the Thunder could.

Sportz Nation's Basketball Expert JOEL PITON predicts the Cavaliers in 7.

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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2026 NBA Playoffs

-Z.D.