Knicks vs. Cavaliers live scores, updates, highlights from Game 1 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals playoff series
Knicks vs Cavaliers live score, updates, highlights of Game 1 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals series from Sporting News. Add Sports News as a Favorite Source by clicking here.
After a stunning victory in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to New York to face the Knicks in Game 1. Although the Cavaliers need seven games to advance, the Knicks are out for eight days following their sweep of the 76ers.
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Cleveland survived Detroit, but hasn’t delivered the same way in multiple games. There have been games where Donovan Mitchell has scored 40 points. There have been games won by the great performance of James Harden. However, Mitchell, Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen haven’t been hitting on all cylinders in the same game yet.
New York is in great shape. Better on home courts, they are 8-2 in these contests and in their wins they have put up between 113 and 144 points in those games. The Knicks have played the best of any team in the Eastern Conference thus far in the playoffs.
Cleveland will need to be dominant offensively in every game of this series if they hope to make it a contender. If the Knicks can keep doing what they’ve been doing and Cleveland can’t find consistency, this could be a short series.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full version | Updated parentheses
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Cavaliers vs. Knicks live updates, highlights of NBA playoffs Game 1
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the New York Knicks 83-69 after three quarters
3rd Quarter-1:09: Donovan Mitchell takes an inbounds pass and weaves it coast to coast almost untouched for a contested touchdown. Cavs lead by 14.
3rd Quarter-1:52: Jalen Brunson makes a layup running between two Cleveland defenders. That was Brunson’s first field goal since the end of the 2nd quarter. The Cavaliers led by 13.
3rd Quarter-2:38: CLE used a “hack-a-Robinson”. Sent to the free throw line. Trying to stop him from firing like a sniper. As a team, the Knicks are shooting 17% from three on 23 attempts.
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3rd Quarter-3:05: The Knicks sent two defenders when Mitchell got the ball a few minutes ago. That led to the Cavaliers finding an open shooter. As Sam Merrill scored twice in the last two minutes. Cavs lead by 13.
3rd Quarter-3:55: The ‘Cavalanche’ continues. CLE is 8-3 on the road. Including four straight points from Jarrett Allen.
3rd Quarter-6:40: The Knicks call a timeout as the Cavaliers’ lead has reached +9. “The Knicks need a timeout and the Garden is quiet.” – Mike Breen.
3rd Quarter-7:24: Donovan Mitchell gets his 6th steal and reverses the order of the drive. Mitchell still scored the most goals in this game with 22. Next up is Jalen Brunson with 14.
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3rd quarter-8:59: Dean Wade and Evan Mobley made consecutive three-point shots. Extends CLE trail to +4.
3rd Quarter-10:27: Josh Hart takes a hard shot and falls for the second of three tackles. Cleveland challenges the call. Official update. The officials did not make a bad decision as they chose to charge Karl Anthony Towns with a foul before making contact with Hart. Call cancelled, CLE keeps its timeout.
3rd quarter-11:00: OG Anunoby misses a mid-range jumper, but the deep rebound goes to Karl Anthony Towns. He misses a three-pointer, but another long rebound gives him a second chance. You put it back behind the three-point line and make that shot. That’s only New York’s third after going 2-for-21.
Team Statistics
|
CLE |
NYK |
|
|---|---|---|
|
FG |
16-38 |
20-43 |
|
Field Goal % |
42 |
47 |
|
3PT |
8-21 |
2-19 |
|
three points % |
38 |
11 |
|
FT |
8-10 |
4-4 |
|
Free Dump % |
80 |
100 |
|
Rebounds |
17 |
18 |
|
Offensive Rebounds |
4 |
2 |
|
Defensive Rebounds |
13 |
16 |
|
It helps |
10 |
11 |
|
He steals |
6 |
6 |
|
Blocks |
2 |
0 |
|
Total Amount Changed |
11 |
8 |
|
Points Dropped Turnovers |
15 |
9 |
|
Fast Break Points |
8 |
6 |
|
Points in Paint |
14 |
32 |
|
Mistakes |
6 |
10 |
|
Technical Errors |
0 |
0 |
|
Blatant Mistakes |
0 |
0 |
|
Major Leads |
6 |
11 |
|
Percent Led |
32 |
62 |
The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the New York Knicks 48-46 at halftime
2nd Quarter-1:08: Max Strus made a 25-foot three-pointer off an Evan Mobley screen. That shot tied the game for the first time with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. Mitchell hit a 26-point three-pointer to take the lead just before halftime.
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2nd quarter-2:01: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot. Mitchell was fouled on the play and made more free throws. That tied Mitchell for the top goal scorer on any team and reduced the deficit to 1 goal.
2nd quarter-4:26: James Harden and Sam Merrill hit back-to-back 3-pointers (30 and 24 feet, respectively). An 8-0 run. Cutting the Knicks resulted in a +3.
2nd quarter-6:12: Jalen Brunson made another drive. Those points put Brunson over double digits in scoring. Extending the Knicks lead is +8.
2nd quarter-7:56: Jose Alvarado makes an 8-foot driving float.
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2nd quarter-8:15: Dean Wade makes a 23-foot three-point shot.
2nd quarter-9:05: Evan Mobley is doing a pilot program.
2nd Quarter-9:52: Karl Anthony Towns makes a 1-foot layup.
2nd Quarter-10:06: Evan Mobley made a 9-foot scoring shot.
2nd quarter-10:23: Jose Alvarado made a 1-foot floater.
2nd quarter-11:17: Donovan Mitchell is doing the driving
The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 23-16 after the first quarter.
First quarter-0:33: Jordan Clarkson made a 24-foot three pointer
First quarter-0:47: Sam Merrill makes a running layup.
1st quarter-2:44: Mitchell Robinson makes an alley oop dunk.
First quarter-3:33: Mikal Bridges makes a running dunk.
First quarter-3:46: Jalen Brunson makes a 1-foot shot.
First quarter-4:18: Mikal Bridges made the drive order.
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First quarter-5:38: Josh Hart does the running order.
First quarter-6:01: Jalen Brunson makes a 16-foot pull up jumper.
First quarter-8:08: Donovan Mitchell is doing the driving.
First quarter-8:22: Jalen Brunson makes a 9-foot float.
First quarter-8:44: Donovan Mitchell makes the order work.
First quarter-9:24: Donovan Mitchell makes a 25-foot three-point shot.
First quarter-10:01: Mikal Bridges makes a floating 7-foot drive.
First quarter-11:10: James Harden makes a 6-foot driving float.
