Knicks will await winner of Pistons–Cavaliers Game 7 to set Eastern Conference opponent
- New York will learn its Eastern Conference finals opponent on Sunday, May 17, when Detroit hosts Cleveland in Game 7 of the semifinals. - The series is tied 3-3, and the winner advances to face the Knicks after Detroit's 115-94 Game 6 win forced Sunday night. - Game 7 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, with the Knicks already through to the East finals.
The New York Knicks entered Sunday without an opponent for the Eastern Conference finals because the other East semifinal went the distance. Detroit and Cleveland are scheduled to play Game 7 on May 17 at 8 p.m. ET in Detroit, according to the NBA playoff schedule. The winner will move on to face New York, which already secured its conference finals place. Detroit forced the deciding game with a 115-94 win in Game 6 on Friday. ### When will the Knicks know who they play next? Sunday, May 17, is the date that decides the Knicks' matchup. The NBA's playoff bracket lists Pistons-Cavaliers Game 7 for 8 p.m. ET, with the winner earning the final Eastern Conference finals berth. New York has been waiting since finishing its own semifinal series. NBA.com's playoff coverage said the Knicks had already entered the East finals while Detroit and Cleveland prepared for a winner-take-all game. ### Why is Game 7 in Detroit? Detroit earned home court by finishing ahead of Cleveland in the East bracket. The NBA playoff page lists the matchup as "DET (1) vs. (nba.com) CLE (4)" and shows Game 7 in Detroit. The series reached a seventh game after Detroit won twice facing elimination. NBA.com said the Pistons beat the Cavaliers 115-94 in Game 6 on May 15 to tie the series 3-3 and send it back home. (nba.com) ### What do the results so far say about the matchup? Six games have produced a full swing of momentum. Detroit won Games 1 and 2, Cleveland answered with victories in Games 3, 4 and 5, and Detroit then took Game 6 to even the series again, according to ESPN's postseason schedule and the NBA playoff page. (nba.com) Cade Cunningham and Donovan Mitchell have been the headliners in the series. NBA.com lists Cunningham averaging 25.7 points and 8.3 assists for Detroit, while Mitchell is averaging 28.5 points for Cleveland entering Game 7. ### What is already set for New York? The Knicks are already through and do not need a play-in date or extra tiebreaker. (espn.com) NBA.com's playoff coverage said New York entered the East finals before the Detroit-Cleveland series was resolved. The open question is only which team travels to meet them. Detroit Free Press reported schedule contingencies for the next round depending on whether Detroit or Cleveland survives Game 7 and which club opens on the road. (nba.com) ### How much pressure is on Cleveland and Detroit? (nba.com) Cleveland is trying to avoid letting a 3-2 series edge disappear. ESPN's postseason schedule shows the Cavaliers won Games 3 through 5 before losing by 21 points in Game 6. Detroit is playing for its first East finals berth from this bracket path and gets the deciding game at home. (freep.com) The NBA playoff page says the Pistons have home court Sunday night, with the winner moving directly into the conference finals against New York. ### What happens immediately after Game 7? The bracket will be complete as soon as Sunday's result is final. (espn.com) The Knicks will face either Cade Cunningham's Pistons or Donovan Mitchell's Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, based on the Game 7 winner. Sunday's 8 p.m. ET tip in Detroit is the next fixed point on the schedule. (nba.com) The NBA playoff page and ESPN's postseason listings both place Cleveland at Detroit for Game 7 on May 17.
