The Cleveland Cavaliers are headed back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 after a dominant 125-94 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night in Detroit. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers delivered one of their most complete performances of the postseason and now turn their attention toward a showdown with the third-seeded New York Knicks.
The series sets up a high-stakes battle between two teams looking to make a return to the NBA Finals. Cleveland enters with momentum after cruising through its semifinal matchup, while New York will look to capitalize on home-court advantage when the series opens at Madison Square Garden.
Fans won’t have to wait long for the action to begin, as Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday night in New York.
Cavaliers vs. Knicks Eastern Conference Finals Schedule
All game times are listed in Eastern Time (ET).
Game 1
- Date: Tuesday, May 19
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: New York
- TV: ESPN
Game 2
- Date: Thursday, May 21
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: New York
- TV: ESPN
Game 3
- Date: Saturday, May 23
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Cleveland
- TV: ABC
Game 4
- Date: Monday, May 25
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Cleveland
- TV: ESPN
Game 5 (if necessary)
- Date: Wednesday, May 27
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: New York
Game 6 (if necessary)
- Date: Friday, May 29
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Cleveland
Game 7 (if necessary)
- Date: Sunday, May 31
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: New York
How to Watch Cavaliers vs. Knicks
The 2026 Eastern Conference Finals will air across ESPN and ABC, giving fans multiple ways to follow the series. Viewers with cable subscriptions can watch on the respective channels, while streaming options are available through services that carry ESPN and ABC.
TV Channels: ESPN, ABC
Streaming Options: ESPN app, ABC app, live TV streaming services
Cavaliers Return to the Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland’s return to the conference finals marks its deepest playoff run in eight years. The Cavaliers last reached this stage in 2018, when they were led by LeBron James. This year’s team has taken a different path, built around a balanced roster and strong postseason performances.
Meanwhile, the Knicks are aiming to reach the NBA Finals and continue their own postseason resurgence. With Madison Square Garden hosting the first two games, the atmosphere in New York is expected to be one of the biggest storylines of the series.
The winner of the Cavaliers-Knicks series will earn a spot in the 2026 NBA Finals.