How To Watch NBA Playoffs First-Round: Knicks at Cavaliers Game 1
The 2022-23 NBA regular season has come to an end and with the Play-In Tournament coming to an end, it is officially time for the playoffs to begin!
On Saturday night, the first-round series between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers will begin, as the two teams will meet in Cleveland for Game 1.
Two unique teams that focus a lot on their defense, there is quite the narrative brewing between the Knicks and Cavaliers. Not only did the Knicks look to trade for Donovan Mitchell before the Cavs did in the offseason, but Mitchell is from New York, adding a little bit of spice to this series for him!
The Cavaliers had their best season in the post-LeBron James era and they look like a real contender for many years to come with their core of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
For the Knicks, they are looking to prove that they made the right decision going with Jalen Brunson instead of Donovan Mitchell, as Brunson has had an All-NBA and All-Star-like season.
Julius Randle remains a question mark for Game 1 and for this series though, as he continues to try and work his way back to full-strength following an ankle sprain.
Can the Knicks pull off a shocking Game 1 victory on Saturday or will the Cavaliers hold strong in front of their fans?
Here's how to watch Saturday’s game, with game time and TV, lineups, bios and other must-know details.
How to watch Knicks vs. Cavaliers
WHO: New York Knicks (0-0) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (0-0)
WHAT: 2023 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs: First-Round, Game 1
WHEN: 6:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 15
WHERE: Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
TV: ESPN
Key Stats & Facts For Knicks vs. Cavaliers
- The Knicks and Cavaliers faced off four times during the regular season with the Knicks winning three of the four games played, outscoring the Cavs by 14 points.
- The Cavaliers finished the regular season ranking 9th in offensive rating and 1st in defensive rating, while the Knicks finished the regular season ranking 3rd in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating.
- Cleveland is 31-10 at home this season and New York is 24-17 on the road.
Last Matchup:
March 31, 2023 - Knicks 130, Cavaliers 116
Without Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson exploded for 48 points on 18-32 shooting in the Knicks victory against the Cavaliers in their last meeting of the regular season. All five starters for New York finished in double figures and New York made 17 of their 36 shots from three-point range. For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell finished with a team-high 42 points on 16-23 shooting, 6-9 from three-point range. The Cavaliers were without Jarrett Allen in this game.
Latest Injury News:
Knicks Injuries: Isaiah Roby (ankle) - Out, Julius Randle (ankle) - Questionable
Cavaliers Injuries: Dylan Windler (foot) - Out, Isaac Okoro (knee) - Questionable
Projected Starters:
PROJECTED KNICKS STARTERS:
- G Jalen Brunson, 6-1 guard: 24.0 points, 6.2 assists (2022-23 season stats)
- G Quentin Grimes, 6-5 guard: 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds
- F RJ Barrett, 6-6 forward: 19.6 points, 5.0 rebounds
- F Julius Randle (Q), 6-8 forward: 25.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists
- C Mitchell Robinson, 7-0 center: 7.4 points, 9.4 rebounds
PROJECTED CAVALIERS STARTERS:
- G Darius Garland, 6-3 guard: 21.6 points, 7.8 assists
- G Donovan Mitchell, 6-6 guard: 28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists
- F Isaac Okoro (Q), 6-8 forward, 6-7 forward: 6.4 points, 2.5 rebounds
- F/C Evan Mobley, 6-9 forward/center: 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds
- C Jarrett Allen, 6-9 center: 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds
Betting Odds:
- The Cavaliers are currently 3.5-point favorites over the Knicks as of Saturday morning, according to SI Sportsbook.
- The over/under for this matchup is currently set at 216.5 total points.
What to watch for:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have made the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and the first time without LeBron James since he entered the league in 2003.
- The New York Knicks have made the playoffs two of the last three seasons, failing to advance past the first-round in 2021.
- Cleveland is 41-15 this season when they score at least 110 points. New York is 35-19 this season when they score at least 110 points.
- The Cavaliers and Knicks have played a total of 9 playoff games and three playoff series all-time. New York is 8-1 against Cleveland in the postseason and they have won all of their playoff series against the Cavs.
Be sure to catch up on the newest episode of The Fast Break Podcast hosted by Fastbreak's own Brett Siegel!
Streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, The Fast Break Podcast takes you inside the league with the latest news, intel, rumors and interviews from those close to the action for all 30 teams. Be on the lookout for a new episodes every Friday.
