Knicks open East final May 20

The New York Knicks know the date of their next series, but not yet the opponent. The NBA’s official 2026 playoff schedule lists New York in the Eastern Conference finals beginning Tuesday, May 19, after the Knicks completed a 4-0 semifinal sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers on May 10. (nba.com) The other East semifinal remains unresolved, with Cleveland scheduled to play at Detroit in Game 7 on Sunday, May 17. The league has not yet posted game-by-game times for the East finals on its main playoff schedule page. ### When do the Knicks actually start the Eastern Conference finals? (nba.com) Tuesday, May 19 is the date listed for the Knicks’ next series on the NBA’s official playoff pages. The league’s master playoff schedule says the conference finals schedule will be updated at the conclusion of the previous round, but the Eastern Conference finals bracket already shows New York slotted against the Detroit-Cleveland winner. NorthJersey also reported that the Knicks’ Eastern Conference finals opener is set for May 19. That date differs from the preliminary context provided for this card, which said May 20 and named Buffalo and Montreal as potential opponents; the NBA’s official bracket shows Detroit and Cleveland, not Buffalo and Montreal. (nba.com) ### Who will New York face? Detroit and Cleveland are the only possible opponents left on the East side. The NBA schedule page lists their semifinal series at 3-3, with Game 7 set for Sunday, May 17, at 8 p.m. (nba.com) Eastern in Detroit. The Knicks advanced first by beating Philadelphia in four straight games. NBA.com’s game recap said New York reached the Eastern Conference finals for the second consecutive season after a 144-114 win in Game 4. ### Why is there confusion about May 19 versus May 20? (northjersey.com) May 16 is the latest official checkpoint, and the NBA’s own schedule page still treats the East finals dates as subject to update after the prior round ends. The same page, however, places the Western Conference finals on a fixed Monday-Wednesday-Friday cadence beginning May 18, while the East bracket page already identifies New York’s series slot without publishing the full game slate. (nba.com) NorthJersey’s report published Friday said Game 1 is Tuesday, May 19. Because the NBA says the schedule will be updated once the previous round ends, any later league posting would supersede secondary reports, but no official NBA page reviewed here lists May 20 for the Knicks’ opener. (nba.com) ### What has New York done to get here? May 10 was the clincher for New York, which closed out Philadelphia with a 30-point win in Game 4. NBA.com said the Knicks swept the 76ers 4-0 and moved into the East finals behind a strong offensive stretch and a defense that held Philadelphia below 103 points in the first three games. (nba.com) The bracket now lists New York as the No. 3 seed in the East finals. Detroit is the No. 1 seed and Cleveland the No. 4 seed on the same official playoff schedule page. (northjersey.com) ### Where should readers check for the final schedule? NBA.com is the primary source for the official dates, times and broadcast information. The league’s 2026 playoff schedule page says it will be updated each time postseason scheduling is officially announced, and the East finals series page is already live for New York against the Detroit-Cleveland winner. (nba.com) Sunday, May 17 is the next key date. Cleveland plays Detroit in Game 7 that night, and the NBA’s updated East finals schedule is expected after that result is in. (nba.com)