Knicks host Cavaliers Game 1 May 19

The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, with tipoff set for 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. NorthJersey.com and WKYC both listed the opener for Tuesday in New York, and ESPN's playoff schedule shows the conference finals now underway ahead of the NBA Finals, which are set to begin June 3. Cleveland reached this round for the first time since 2018, according to WKYC's series preview and schedule pages. New York returned to the East finals after losing there a year ago, WKYC reported, setting up a matchup between two teams that arrived by different routes but now open on the same floor. (northjersey.com) ### Why does this series start in New York? Madison Square Garden is the site for Game 1 on May 19 and Game 2 on May 21, according to NorthJersey.com and CBS Sports' team schedule page. CBS Sports listed New York's next game as Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET against Cleveland, and NorthJersey.com said the Knicks would open the series at home before it shifts to Cleveland. (wkyc.com) NorthJersey.com also posted the full early-series slate, with Game 3 scheduled for May 23 in Cleveland and Game 4 for May 25. ESPN's playoff hub lists June 3 as the start of the NBA Finals, giving the winner of Knicks-Cavaliers a defined path forward if the series runs deep. (northjersey.com) ### Why are Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell at the center of the coverage? CBS Sports put Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell at the center of its preview, saying their paths had been intertwined since the summer of 2022. The outlet said New York signed Brunson and pursued Mitchell in trade talks before Mitchell landed in Cleveland, making this series a meeting between the two guards most associated with those decisions. (northjersey.com) CBS Sports said the opener would help define "these eras" for the Knicks and Cavaliers through whichever star can lead his team to the NBA Finals. That framing has made Brunson-versus-Mitchell the clearest individual matchup entering Game 1. ### How did Cleveland get here? WKYC said Cleveland advanced after beating Detroit in seven games, sending the Cavaliers to their first conference finals since 2018. (cbssports.com) CBS Sports' Cavaliers page also listed Cleveland coming off a May 17 win over Detroit before turning immediately to the Knicks series. The Cavaliers' schedule page on CBS Sports showed Cleveland entering Tuesday's opener after a 125-94 victory in Game 7 against the Pistons. WKYC described that result as Cleveland rewriting its postseason story before moving on to New York. ### What should viewers know before tipoff? WKYC's Game 1 preview said the game can be watched Tuesday night as the NBA playoffs continue, and NorthJersey.com listed ESPN as the television home for the opener. (wkyc.com) CBS Sports' team page also showed the 8 p.m. ET start time for the Knicks-Cavaliers matchup. (cbssports.com) Game 2 is scheduled for May 21 at Madison Square Garden, according to NorthJersey.com and CBS Sports' posted schedule. After that, the series moves to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4 on May 23 and May 25. (northjersey.com) (wkyc.com)