This first-round matchup has the potential to be the most exciting and is almost guaranteed to be the hardest with the fifth-seeded New York Knicks taking on the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
This game kicks off this Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. EST at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and the crowd is sure to be rowdy.
The latest news on Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ acquisition of Donovan Mitchell and the New York Knicks’ acquisition of Jalen Brunson last summer proved to be the most pivotal offseason moves made in the Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers host the Knicks in the first game of a best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Saturday night, kicking off a referendum on which deal worked best.
Jalen Brunson, who suffered a right-hand sprain at the end of the season, has stated that his injury will not hinder him in any way. He shoots with his left hand, so that won’t be an issue.
To lead an offense that finished fourth in offensive rating, Brunson will need to be at his best, as he was in the playoffs last year.
Donovan Mitchell is the most well-known player, and he recently destroyed the Knicks. In his last six games against New York, he has averaged 32.5 points and 7.0 assists.
Mitchell (finger) is not listed as out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Knicks on Saturday.
Mitchell missed the final two games of the regular season due to a finger injury, but he’ll be ready for the playoffs.
Prior to his absences, the All-Star guard had four straight games with 40 points or more, averaging 42.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.3 steals in 40.3 minutes.
While Mitchell and Brunson are the most visible players on the court, the health of forwards Isaac Okoro and Julius Randle could decide the series.
Randle averaged 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds for the Knicks this season before suffering a sprained left ankle and missing the final five games.
Randle was officially listed as questionable for Saturday, but ESPN reported that he was “targeting” a Game 1 return and would test his ankle before the game.
This is the fourth postseason meeting between the teams. The Knicks swept a best-of-three first-round series from the Cavaliers in 1978 before earning series wins in best-of-five first-round matchups in 1995 and 1996.
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Cavaliers injuires:
- Isaac Okoro (Knee) – Questionable
- Dylan Windler (Foot) – Out
Knicks injuires:
- Julius Randle (Ankle) – Questionable
