Knicks Postseason 2026, Conference Finals vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

It feels like forever since we've played. 

But we've got our opponent, and it's go time! 

Review Thoughts from Round 1

Review Thoughts from Round 2

Like every other Knick fan, I too hoped for a seven-game series between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and that's what we got. The long series added time for our squad to rest up (get healthy, OG!) and more time to scout exactly what we'll have to deal with in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

We've been here before, and a trip to the NBA Finals once again feels all too close. All too real! 

The Cavaliers present some interesting dynamics with their electric backcourt and the size up front with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. There are also two players on the roster, Dennis Schroder and Max Strus, who often find ways to stick it to the Knicks. Sam Merrill seems like the kind of guy who would join that group in this series. 

Nonetheless, the Knicks are on a historic run. The Cavs have been knocking on the door of the East for some time now. It seems fitting it's down to these two for the East crown. There is the obvious question of having the week off and whether it will create some rust. Maybe, some lost mojo? Or, stalled momentum?

At this point, so much of this seems like sports-talk fodder. Just win. 

Again, Knicks fans have been to this doorstep before - the NBA Finals is right there! We're sooooooo close. So close, man.

• My Key Matchup: Mikal Bridges vs. Donovan Mitchell
• Of course, this is assuming this is the matchup Mike Brown will stay with as this series moves along. The Knicks have plenty of options defensively in this round and in this matchup. If Bridges can make life extremely tough for Mitchell offensively, while having Mitchell chase him around in multiple off-ball actions defensively, this could be a tipping point in how things break down throughout the series. I fully expect lots of defensive adjustments from both teams in terms of personnel coverage, with the Knicks continuing to hide Brunson on the defensive end. 
• Let's not forget the job Bridges did on Tyrese Maxey last round. 
• My Key Stats: 
• 18.8 Points Per Game (75.7%) - That is the true shooting percentage for Mikal Bridge over the last five (dominating) games. He's been such an x-factor for the Knicks on their dominant seven-game stretch. Bridges at a high scoring clip can be trouble once again for a Knicks opponent. 
• 44.7 Rebounds Per Game - The Knicks are fourth among all teams in the NBA Playoffs in Rebounds. The Knicks rely on boards to win games. They've done it in both rounds to rebound-deficient teams. Adding to this is that Big Mitch Robinson is first in offensive rebound percentage (16.8%). 
• +19.4 Points Per Game - That's been the average differential over the past seven games, which is the most through two rounds ever. The Knicks likely don't keep that going, but that dominance surely has to provide something. 
• My Key Player: Jalen Brunson
• After all of that Bridges talk?! Come on, man!
• Listen, since KAT has channeled Magic Johnson, it has coincided with this dominant run. However, I'm not sure the Cavaliers have an answer for Jalen Brunson. And this team will get over this hump if he's ballin'. For me, it's that simple.
• It's all about the Captain in this series.

Again, for this fan, just win, man. Just win. We're. So. Close. 

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Game 1

Knicks d. Cavaliers, 115-104

(Knicks lead series, 1-0)

There was definitely rust. And we definitely lost our rhythm. And there was certainly frustration.

But man oh man! It was nice to have the complete opposite of last year's horrific Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals flipped on its head!

The Knicks looked ragged, and EVERYTHING looked and felt difficult.

A lot of despair and head hanging from your boy...

When you shoot 17% from three (for the first three quarters), everything feels like it's stuck in first gear. That's also just today's NBA. 

Then...

Then!

There was a historic 44-11 run. You know, just more historic things from this squad on this playoff journey. And that fourth quarter had me fist-pumping, holding back emotions, and trying not to wake up my wife and kids (thanks, 8:10pm tip time). 

I've perfected the art of the silent scream and fist pump. And occasionally punching the pillows.

Through it all, it was the Captain who got us there. With a .1% chance of actually winning!

The Cavs had a 99.9% (!!!) chance to win the game with 7:49 remaining and lost.

UNREAL. 🤯🤯🤯

(via @espn, h/t @TrashTalk_fr) pic.twitter.com/ztyjP1kumq

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 20, 2026

A range of emotions. History. A resulting fun night.

We escaped with one. And it seems, after all, that rust is a real thing. 

Other Thoughts: 

• Jalen Brunson...our guy. Our guy. 
• What took the Knicks so long to hunt James Harden on defense? Repeated screens to go right at him...straight intentionality right out of the playground. 
• Landry Shamet changed this game. 
• Mike Brown will catch some heat, but kudos to him for going to his guy in Shamey, who broke this open. 
• Josh Hart on Donovan Mitchell was an interesting call for the first three quarters.
• Speaking of Mitchell...dude is bouncy. Not a shocking statement at all. We know this. He's a joy to watch. Sometimes I wonder in that alternate universe what it would have been like to have him as a Knick. 
• Max Strus is a gritty player. Much respect. 
• A few buckets down the stretch simply didn't drop for the Cavs...we got lucky.
• After shooting 17%-ish for three quarters, the Knicks finished for 31.3%
• Mikal Bridges played a remarkable game. Lots of clutch shots and moments by Bridges in this one. 
• His shot with 2:40 remaining is likely the biggest possession of the game. Such a bailout...
• He had another one down the stretch from the corner as well.
  

  Biggest possession of 4Q for me by far.
  
  Mikal’s bailout 3 with the former DPOY draped all over him and KAT pinned under the basket with ~0% chance of an offensive rebound.
  
  7 point Cavs lead going the other way and likely 2:25 the earliest the Knicks would see the ball again. pic.twitter.com/3t5J9FdBDA

  — Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 20, 2026

• Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists in 40 minutes. Not a bad game, but it felt like he could have had more impact. Especially when the Cavs had James Harden assigned to him. 
• Miles McBride had a rough night. 
• Randomly, I absolutely love the Knicks alumni section. 

Sound up. pic.twitter.com/6aIqDfGDJ4 https://t.co/n1UT8dp6Z8

— Kazeem Famuyide 🇳🇬 🍎 (@Kazeem) May 20, 2026

Are we (re) warmed up? Damn. A 44-11 run. Unbelievable. 

The answer seems like yes. 

Let's go get Game 2.

Other, Other Thoughts:

• That Game 1 on the Western Conference Finals side between the Spurs and Thunder was absolute cinema. It's an overused phrase, but it definitely was.
• I've been amazed by Wembanyama for years now - that dude really is an alien. The League is in trouble going forward. 

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Game 2

Knicks d. Cavaliers, 109-93

(Knicks lead series, 2-0)

That's nine - NINE! - playoffs wins in a row (obviously, a NYK record)!

And we got the ninth via "The Josh Hart Game". 

You just knew defensive adjustments were coming to contain Jalen Brunson in Game 2. Part of that adjustment included trying to minimize the number of times James Harden was assigned to him. 

What we saw was the Vas trying to place Harden on OG Anunoby as far away in the deep corner away from potential screens as possible. This also included Mobley (or at times Donavan Mitchell) leaking way from Josh Hart to keep Brunson at bay. 

What we got? Josh Hart left open all night with a huge dare - go ahead and beat us! And ultimately, he made them pay. 

A career night in the postseason for Josh Hart, finishing with a game high, 26 points to go along with several other box score stuffing that we usually get from Hart.

Thus, The Josh Hart Game.

Other Thoughts: 

• I am very intrigued to see what the next adjustment will be for Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs for game 3. Do they run the Josh Hart strategy back and dare him to do it again?
• Jalen Brunson continues to be at the center of it all with 14 assists. The Captain found the open man all night once they blitzed or attempted to cut off his lanes. 
• Off that thought...Mikal Bridges has been SO vital in this Game 2 adjustment in running off screens, being a point person for actions at the top of the key, and ultimately, playing tremendous defense on Harden and Mitchell. Overall, dude has been hooping since the Philly series. 

  Mikal is HOOPING right now. On both sides

  — Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) May 22, 2026

• KAT had another solid game. We haven't seen much of the point-center hub as of late, but it doesn't matter. What I am most intrigued by is what feels like a KAT that lets the game come to him. And that makes all the difference in the world. 
• Donavan Mitchell doesn't seem right. He was still impactful, but clearly not himself. 
• Cavs shot 25.7% from three as a team. They got a lot of good looks tonight that just didn't fall. 
• Sam Merrill - 1-8 FG and 0-7 3PG is not helpful.
• Cavs missed a ton of key free throws. Again, 22/32 for the game...no bueno.
• Max Strus will clearly look to muddy this game up with Jalen Brunson in Game 3 in front of their home crowd. Some of the antics in his final fouls were...well, clearly annoying Brunson. 
• Mike Brown deserves a lot of credit for this run and some of his adjustments.

Took care of business in the Garden. Not a chance this team will wilt like Philadelphia did. Need to prepare for what will be an interesting Game 3. 

#LGK

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Game 3

Knicks d. Cavaliers, 121-108

(Knicks lead series, 3-0)

And that's now, ten! 

Mannnnnnn, this has been some stretch of Knicks hoops. I love that 1998-1999 Knicks team that made that run to the NBA Finals, our last. So much about that team was built around their journey to the Finals. We're now one win away from The Finals once again, and likely one win away from solidifying this team taking the top spot. Best Knicks team in my lifetime. 

Tonight was more of the same that we've seen in three games thus far. The Knicks are sharing the ball and defending at an elite level. The Cavaliers are a good team. They really are. They ran into a buzzsaw, and that buzzsaw is - shockingly - my New York Knicks. 

I've lived through 2004 and the ALCS and collapse of that Yankees team...this ain't over until we win four. 

Other Thoughts: 

• Landry Shamet once again...big threes and tremendous defense down the stretch.
• KAT finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. He also finished with a game high of +23. The point-center KAT has been remarkable.
• It should also be said: KAT has been so engaged on defense through this stretch, and that has been an underrated factor and a difference-maker in this run. The silly fouls have been held to a minimum, and the lapses have been very rare. 
• Mikal Bridges. Boss. 
• How can you not be happy for the dude? Especially when some in the fanbase wanted to run him out of town. 
• And who cares about those five first-round picks?
• By the way...The Knicks have the 24th, 31st, and 55th pick in THIS year's draft. 
• But again, who cares right now? Some fans are so weird. 
• The Cavs shot 50%...and still lost this game by 13 points. That's a fact that is so telling for the Cavs (and their likely frustration) in this series and for the Knicks' dominance right now. Again, the Cavs have played well. 
• This run has felt magical because, well, that's the only way to explain it. The Knicks' differential of +225 is the largest point differential over a ten-game span in the playoffs or regular season - EVER! 
• Absolutely wild stuff coming out of the historic area for this run...

   

  10 STRAIGHT POSTSEASON WINS FOR NEW YORK.
  
  During the streak, New York has averaged 122.2 PPG while allowing 99.7 for opponents, giving them an average margin of victory of +22.5!
  
  The highest average margin of victory over any 10-game postseason winning streak in NBA history 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WkTB3Ljjhl

  — NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2026

My birthday is on Monday, May 25. The Knicks could give me the greatest birthday present since I was a 14-year-old kid rooting on Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, and the crew in 1999.

One. More. Win. 

So close. Sooooo close. 

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