The New York Knicks know when the Eastern Conference Finals will begin.
They just don’t yet know where — and that answer will determine not only the setting, but also who holds home-court advantage.
Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is set for Tuesday, with the location dependent on Sunday night’s Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons.
If the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons advance, they will own home-court advantage over the No. 3 seed Knicks, hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary) at Little Caesars Arena.
If the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers win, the Knicks will instead control the series, opening Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary) at Madison Square Garden.
The full Eastern Conference Finals schedule is set, though tip-off times remain to be announced:
- Game 1 — Tuesday, May 19
- Game 2 — Thursday, May 21
- Game 3 — Saturday, May 23
- Game 4 — Monday, May 25
- Game 5 — Wednesday, May 27 (if necessary)
- Game 6 — Friday, May 29 (if necessary)
- Game 7 — Sunday, May 31 (if necessary)
All games will air on ESPN or ABC.
Knicks Await Opponent After Sweep
The Knicks advanced early after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers, giving them an unusual advantage this late in the postseason: time.
By the time Game 1 tips off Tuesday, New York will have had a nine-day layoff, while its opponent will be coming off a grueling stretch.
Both Detroit and Cleveland have already gone seven games in the opening round and will meet Sunday night in a winner-take-all Game 7 — meaning the Knicks will face a team coming off back-to-back seven-game series.
Whether that contrast works in New York’s favor remains unclear.
Coach Mike Brown said there are arguments on both sides.
“I’ve been in both situations, playing while a team’s waiting and I’ve been waiting while a team’s playing,” Brown said, via New York Post. “You can say a lot theoretically. You can say they’re going to be tired, but you can also say they have a competitive edge because they’ve been going at it for seven games and we’ve been off.”
Brown said the Knicks have focused on maintaining sharpness during the layoff while allowing players to recover.
“You keep trying to do different things during the course of the downtime to keep them sharp, keep them focused and try to keep their competitive edge up as much as you can,” he said.
Health, Rest Could Shape Game 1
GettyOG Anunoby’s return looms large for the Knicks after Mike Brown revealed he participated in full practice ahead of the Eastern Conference finals.
The extra time has been particularly valuable for forward OG Anunoby, who continues working back from a right hamstring injury.
Anunoby practiced Saturday again and said the injury was not as severe as the one he sustained two years ago.
“It didn’t feel as bad as the past when it happened,” Anunoby said, via Associated Press. “So knowing that, just trying to improve it day by day.”
Anunoby has been one of the Knicks’ most impactful postseason players, averaging 21.4 points while shooting 61.9% from the field and 53.8% from 3-point range, while anchoring the defense.
“He’s been back and he looks good to me,” guard Mikal Bridges said, via Associated Press. “I know how OG works and how his body is, so I think he’ll be all right.”
Stakes Clear as Knicks Eye Finals Return
Whether the Knicks open at Madison Square Garden or on the road in Detroit, the stakes are the same.
New York is within reach of its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
A Pistons victory would force the Knicks to take on the East’s top seed without home-court advantage.
A Cavaliers win would shift that edge to New York.
Either way, the Knicks now wait — rested, but facing a battle-tested opponent — for where the next chapter begins.
Knicks Know When Game 1 Is — But Not Where and Here’s Why