Knicks vs. Cavaliers live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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After a surprising blowout win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal round, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to New York to take on the Knicks in Game 1. While the Cavaliers needed seven games to advance, the Knicks have been off for eight days following their sweep of the 76ers.
Cleveland survived Detroit, but have yet to give consistent performances over multiple games. There have been games where Donovan Mitchell is flirting with 40 points. There have been games won on a good James Harden performance. However, Mitchell, Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen have not hit on all cylinders in the same game yet.
New York is in a great situation. Home court advantage, they are 8-2 in these playoffs and in their wins they have put up between 113 and 144 points in those games. The Knicks have played the best of any Eastern Conference team thus far in the playoffs.
Cleveland will need to be the aggressor in each of the games in this series if they hope to make it competitive. If the Knicks can keep doing what they’ve been doing and Cleveland does not find consistency, this could be a short series.
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Cavaliers vs. Knicks live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 1
4th Quarter-4:03: Jalen Brunson has connected on midrange shots on consecutive possessions. Cutting the Cavs lead to 8.
4th Quarter-7:03: It is clear the Knicks need Brunson to create. He is driving and taking on double teams on almost every 4th quarter possession. This time he loses control of the ball but it falls right to Karl Anthony Towns who finds an open Landry Shamet who buries a three from the top of the key.
4th Quarter-8:39: Dennis Schroder finds Dean Wade for a 23-foot three-point shot. He was fouled on the play and made the extra free throw. Extending the Cavaliers lead to +20.
A(nd)-1 PRIME DEAN WADE. @deanwade3232 | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/D8jLBxrG4F
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 20, 2026
4th Quarter-9:17: Karl Anthony Towns makes a two-point shot. Putting an end to the scoreless streak by both teams to start the 4th quarter.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the New York Knicks 83-69 after three quarters
3rd Quarter-1:09: Donovan Mitchell takes the inbounds pass and weaves coast to coast virtually untouched for a contested layup. Cavs lead by 14.
3rd Quarter-1:52: Jalen Brunson makes a running layup between two Cleveland defenders. That is Brunson’s first field goal since the end of the 2nd quarter. Cavaliers lead by 13.
3rd Quarter-2:38: CLE has employed “hack-a-Robinson”. He has been sent to the free throw line. Attempting to prevent him from getting hot as a shooter. As a team, the Knicks are shooting 17% from three on 23 attempts.
3rd Quarter-3:05: The Knicks are sending two defenders when Mitchell gets the ball in the last few minutes. That has led to the Cavaliers finding an open shooter. With Sam Merrill being the beneficiary twice in the last two minutes. Cavs lead by 13.
3rd Quarter-3:55: The ‘Cavalanche’ continues. CLE is on a 8-3 run. Including four consecutive points from Jarrett Allen.
Sammy BUCKETS.@smerrill05 | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/N9pNUMSrTe
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 20, 2026
3rd Quarter-6:40: Knicks call a timeout as the Cavaliers lead has ballooned to +9. “Knicks need a timeout and the Garden has gone quiet” -Mike Breen.
3rd Quarter-7:24: Donovan Mitchell gets his 6th steal of the game and converts a driving layup. Mitchell remains the game’s high scorer with 22. The next closest is Jalen Brunson with 14.
3rd Quarter-8:59: Dean Wade and Evan Mobley make consecutive three-point shots. Extending the CLE lead to +4.
3rd Quarter-10:27: Josh Hart takes a hard shot and falls to the floor for the second time in three possessions. Cleveland challenges the call. Official review. Officials ruled no flagrant foul as they opted to charge Karl Anthony Towns with an offensive foul before the contact with Hart. Call overturned, CLE retains their timeout.
3rd Quarter-11:00: OG Anunoby misses a midrange jumper, but the deep rebound goes to Karl Anthony Towns. He misses the three-point shot, but another long rebound gives him a second chance. He pulls it back behind the three-point line and made that shot. That is only New York’s third three after going 2-for-21.
a long ball from 3️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/nDcQzlqOCn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
Team Stats
CLENYKFG16-3820-43Field Goal %42473PT8-212-19Three Point %3811FT8-104-4Free Throw %80100Rebounds1718Offensive Rebounds42Defensive Rebounds1316Assists1011Steals66Blocks20Total Turnovers118Points Conceded Off Turnovers159Fast Break Points86Points in Paint1432Fouls610Technical Fouls00Flagrant Fouls00Largest Lead611Percent Led3262
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the New York Knicks 48-46 at halftime
2nd Quarter-1:08: Max Strus makes a 25-foot three point shot off of an Evan Mobley screen. That shot ties the game for first time since 4 minutes left in the first quarter. Mitchell made a 26-foot three-point shot to take the lead just before halftime.
2nd Quarter-2:01: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot. Mitchell was fouled on the play and makes the additional free throw. That puts Mitchell firmly at the top of the scoring for either team and cuts the lead to 1.
2nd Quarter-4:26: James Harden and Sam Merrill hit back-to-back three-point shots (30 and 24 feet respectively). Capping an 8-0 run. Cutting the Knicks lead to +3.
2nd Quarter-6:12: Jalen Brunson makes another driving layup. That score gets Brunson over the double-digit mark in scoring. Extending the Knicks lead to +8.
2nd Quarter-7:56: Jose Alvarado makes an 8-foot driving floater.
2nd Quarter-8:15: Dean Wade makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd Quarter-9:05: Evan Mobley makes a driving layup.
2nd Quarter-9:52: Karl Anthony Towns makes a 1-foot layup.
2nd Quarter-10:06: Evan Mobley makes a 9-foot two-point shot.
2nd Quarter-10:23: Jose Alvarado makes a 1-foot driving floater.
2nd Quarter-11:17: Donovan Mitchell makes a driving layup
the playoffs energy is electric 🔋 pic.twitter.com/c3vVf0mBWn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 23-16 after the 1st Quarter
1st Quarter-0:33: Jordan Clarkson makes a 24-foot three-pointer
1st Quarter-0:47: Sam Merrill makes running layup.
Muscle Man Sam. @smerrill05 | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/tIFIWWS11y
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-2:44: Mitchell Robinson makes alley oop dunk.
1st Quarter-3:33: Mikal Bridges makes a running dunk.
PAY THE BRIDGES TOLL‼️ pic.twitter.com/km27CDGDDy
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-3:46: Jalen Brunson makes a 1-foot shot.
the burner is lit.
8 PTS and counting for 11 🔥 pic.twitter.com/We4wWPz2dJ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-4:18: Mikal Bridges makes a driving layup.
1st Quarter-5:38: Josh Hart makes a running layup.
that hart hustle >>> pic.twitter.com/uY3enwcL3P
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-6:01: Jalen Brunson makes a 16-foot pull up jumper.
1st Quarter-8:08: Donovan Mitchell makes a driving layup.
1st Quarter-8:22: Jalen Brunson makes a 9-foot floater.
1st Quarter-8:44: Donovan Mitchell makes a running layup.
1st Quarter-9:24: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
We like to call that a “SPIDA BITE”.@spidadmitchell | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/exK4l6qIJt
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-10:01: Mikal Bridges makes a 7-foot driving floater.
mikal gets the floater to go 👏 pic.twitter.com/xyZtC7e6SF
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
1st Quarter-11:10: James Harden makes a 6-foot driving floater.
UNO puts us on the board! @JHarden13 | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/idppK2JnCZ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 20, 2026
bring on the ECF 🙌 pic.twitter.com/w29lImifBh
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 18, 2026
We’ve got a Cavs champ calling the game tonight, folks. #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/sjeqG7QePj
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 19, 2026
back at @TheGarden 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/RmRDQhHV8E
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 19, 2026
SPIDA. #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/DujS7HzfR8
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 19, 2026
How to Watch Game 1 Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0) vs Detroit Pistons (0-0)
Friday, May 19
Tip-off: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
More NBA Playoff news:
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