With home court advantage, will the favored Knicks win Game 1 against the Cavaliers tonight?
92% of users predicted YES — the community got this one right. 36 predictions cast.
The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104 in Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on May 19, 2026, at Madison Square Garden, completing one of the largest comebacks in recent playoff history. New York trailed by 22 points in the fourth quarter before guard Jalen Brunson, who finished with 38 points, ignited a 44-11 run over the final 7:40 of regulation and overtime to close out the win.
The Cavaliers built their lead in the first three quarters by exploiting mismatches in the Knicks' half-court defense and generating consistent offense around the perimeter. The momentum reversed when New York's pressure defense tightened and Brunson began converting on isolation possessions, holding Cleveland to just 11 points over the final stretch and forcing the game to overtime.
The result gives the Knicks, coming off a sweep in their previous series, a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, with Game 2 set to remain at Madison Square Garden. Cleveland, which reached the conference finals by eliminating Detroit in seven games, will need to adjust to Brunson's late-game effectiveness. The Predict Six community predicted YES at 92%, correctly anticipating a Knicks home win.