Eastern Conference finals begin — Knicks host Cavaliers in Game 1 tonight

The New York Knicks open the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The matchup puts the No. 3 Knicks against the No. 4 Cavaliers after New York swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and Cleveland advanced by eliminating the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in seven games. The NBA’s official playoff page lists the series as beginning in Manhattan, with New York holding home-court advantage in the opener. ### When and where is Game 1? Madison Square Garden in Manhattan hosts Game 1 on Tuesday, May 19, and the game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. ESPN is carrying the broadcast, according to the NBA playoff schedule and team schedule listings. NorthJersey.com also listed the opener for Tuesday night in New York as the series schedule became final. (nba.com) ### How did New York and Cleveland get here? New York reached the conference finals after a second-round sweep of Philadelphia, according to the Knicks’ postseason schedule and the NBA playoff bracket. Cleveland got through a longer route: the Cavaliers beat Detroit in Game 7 on Sunday to clinch the East semifinal series and set up the matchup with New York. The Cavaliers said in a team release that the conference finals would begin Tuesday, May 19, at Madison Square Garden. (nba.com) ### What does the series schedule look like after Tuesday? Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. ET in New York, according to the published series schedule. Rocket Arena in Cleveland then hosts Game 3 on Saturday, May 23, and Game 4 on Monday, May 25. If necessary, the schedule continues with Game 5 on May 27, Game 6 on May 29 and Game 7 on May 31. (nba.com) ### Which seed has home court in this matchup? The NBA bracket lists New York as the No. 3 seed and Cleveland as the No. 4 seed, which gives the Knicks home court to start the series. That is why the first two games are at Madison Square Garden before the series shifts to Ohio for Games 3 and 4. Cleveland’s team site and the NBA playoff page both show the series opening in New York. (nba.com) ### What else is already known before tipoff? The NBA’s official East finals page had the series listed Tuesday with both teams at 0-0 entering the opener. Knicks game notes posted for May 19 identified Cleveland as New York’s opponent and included the clubs’ most recent regular-season meeting, a Cavaliers 109-94 win on Feb. 24, 2026. The Cavaliers’ release announcing their advance said tickets for Cleveland’s home conference finals games would go on sale starting May 18. (nba.com) Thursday, May 21, is the next scheduled date in the series, with Game 2 set for another 8 p.m. ET start in New York. After that, the matchup moves to Rocket Arena in Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday, May 23. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)