Knicks vs. Cavaliers live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series

Knicks vs. Cavaliers live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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 

Team Stats

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 

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