Knicks await Game 7 opponent

The New York Knicks have four days between games and no opponent yet. New York swept the Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on May 10, closing the series with a 144-114 win in Philadelphia, and advanced to the conference finals for a second straight year. The other East semifinal is still unresolved, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons tied 3-3 and scheduled to play Game 7 on Sunday, May 17, in Detroit. The NBA’s official playoff schedule lists Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals for Tuesday, May 19. ### How did New York get here so early? The Knicks finished their semifinal in four games. NBA.com’s game summary shows New York beat Philadelphia 144-114 on May 10 to complete the sweep, after taking the first three games of the series. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns led a Knicks team that has had more rest than either possible conference finals opponent. (nba.com) NBA.com’s playoff coverage said New York advanced behind a high-scoring offense and defense that held up through the series. ### Why is the other East semifinal going seven games? Detroit extended the series on May 15 with a 115-94 win at Rocket Arena. (nba.com) NBA.com’s Game 6 box score and playoff coverage show the Pistons held Cleveland under 100 points and sent the matchup back to Detroit for a deciding game. The series turned after Cleveland recovered from an 0-2 deficit. NBA.com’s series page lists the Cavaliers winning Games 3, 4 and 5 before Detroit answered in Game 6, leaving the matchup tied 3-3. (nba.com) ### Where and when is Game 7? Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, in Detroit. NBA.com’s games page lists Cavaliers at Pistons at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, and other schedule listings show an 8 p.m. (nba.com) Eastern start. Detroit has home court because it entered the playoffs as the East’s No. 1 seed, while Cleveland is the No. 4 seed. NBA.com’s playoff bracket shows the seeding for the series and confirms the winner advances to face the No. 3 Knicks. (nba.com) ### What do the Knicks know about the two possible opponents? Cleveland’s Game 7 preview on NBA.com centered on Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 27.9 points per game in the regular season and had been held to 23 points or fewer in three of the first six games of the series. (nba.com) Detroit’s side of the matchup runs through Cade Cunningham. NBA.com’s games page lists Cunningham at 29.3 points and 7.7 assists per game entering Game 7, while Mitchell is listed as Cleveland’s scoring leader at 25.6 points per game. (nba.com) The Knicks also saw mixed regular-season results against both clubs. StatMuse’s schedule log shows New York lost at Detroit three times during the regular season, while also beating Cleveland on Christmas Day. (nba.com) ### When would the conference finals begin? The NBA’s 2026 playoff schedule lists the Eastern Conference finals beginning Tuesday, May 19. (nba.com) NBA.com’s conference finals page is already set up for New York against either Detroit or Cleveland. The next firm date is May 17, when the Cavaliers and Pistons will decide the bracket in Detroit. The winner will travel to face the Knicks in Game 1 on May 19, according to the NBA schedule. (statmuse.com) (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2)