The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers will begin their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series in the 2025-26 National Basketball Association (NBA) on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Philippine time, hosted by the Knicks.
Different Paths to the Finals
The two teams took contrasting routes to reach this matchup. The Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the conference semifinals, achieving this even without one of their key players, OG Anunoby, who missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury sustained in Game 2.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers needed a deciding Game 7 to eliminate the Detroit Pistons 4-3 in their conference semifinal series.
Anunoby's Return and Key Matchup
Reports indicate that Anunoby will return to action, which is sure to provide a significant boost for the Knicks as they face the Cavaliers. The most anticipated aspect of this series is the showdown between two of the league's best guards: Donovan Mitchell of the Cavaliers and Jalen Brunson of the Knicks.
Both players have been instrumental in their teams' successes this season, and their individual duel promises to be a highlight of the Eastern Conference finals.
