Cleveland is here the hard way. They erased a 2-0 hole against the top-seeded Pistons and grinded out a 4-3 series win to get to this round, the franchise's first ECF without LeBron James on the roster since 1992. New York, meanwhile, swept Philly 4-0 in the semis and has been sitting at home for over a week, which is either a perfect reset or a chance to go cold — pick your flavor.
This is also a Donovan Mitchell vs Jalen Brunson story whether the two guards check each other or not. Their careers have been tangled since 2022, when the Knicks tried to trade for Mitchell before he ended up in Cleveland and Brunson signed with New York in free agency. Now one of them is going to the Finals. Brunson is averaging 26 and 6.8 in the playoffs, Mitchell 25.6 a night for the Cavs.
The X-factor is James Harden, who Cleveland added before the deadline and who's been the steady second creator at 20.1 points and 6.2 assists. The Knicks took 2 of 3 in the regular season — including the Christmas Day 126-124 comeback — but the one meeting after Harden arrived went Cleveland's way, 109-94. Small sample, but at least the Cavs have a real data point that says this group can win at the Garden.
The market has New York as a 7-point home favorite with a total of 217.5, which feels about right for a Cavs team showing up on short rest against a defense that held playoff opponents to 31.2% from 3. Cleveland needs Mitchell to get downhill and Jarrett Allen to feast at the rim — anything that keeps this from turning into a half-court rock fight where Brunson cooks late.
- Day-To-DayLarry Nance Jr. F — Nance (illness) is questionable for Tuesday's Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.
The only health note that matters tonight is Larry Nance Jr., who's questionable with an illness. Not a rotation-defining absence if he sits, but the Cavs have leaned on his minutes for depth and switchability all postseason. Tip is 7:05 CT at MSG. The series starts here.