2026 NBA Eastern Conference finals: Knicks vs Cavaliers preview, odds and prediction

• Ladbrokes previews the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference finals

• Third-seed New York Knicks face fourth-seed Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell among stars to watch

The Eastern Conference Finals are set as the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers battle for a place in the NBA Finals. While the Knicks swept aside the Philadelphia 76ers to reach the Conference Finals with minimal fuss, the Cavaliers were pushed all the way to seven games by the Detroit Pistons in a bruising semi-final series. Ladbrokes takes a closer look at the Knicks vs Cavaliers series, highlighting the key battles and predicting who will advance to the NBA Finals.

Check out our full guide to the NBA Playoffs here. The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the favourites to retain their NBA title.

New York Knicks stats, preview, players to watch

The New York Knicks head into the Eastern Conference Finals looking like one of the NBA’s form teams after sweeping aside the Philadelphia 76ers in dominant fashion. The Knicks have now won seven straight games after being 2-1 down in the First Round to the Atlanta Hawks, when coach Mike Brown made a tactical switch which saw Karl-Anthony Towns become the team's primary facilitator. New York have been highly impressive since, with six of their seven wins by a double-digit margin and three by over thirty points.

That switch has eased the burden on Jalen Brunson, who remains as effective as ever in the playoffs. Brunson has once again elevated his game in the postseason, averaging 27.4 points per game, and continues to cement his reputation as one of the NBA’s elite operators in the fourth-quarter. It will be fascinating to see how the Cavaliers attempt to tackle Brunson and Towns, as it's a bit of a pick-your-poison. KAT has at least six assists in every game since the role change, in addition to his scoring and rebounding threat.

The Knicks' extra rest after sweeping Philly could be crucial in allowing OG Anunoby to return to full fitness, as he'll have a defining role in this series as he's likely to guard Cleveland's star man Donovan Mitchell. Anunoby’s two-way impact remains vital to New York’s success, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during the playoffs.

There's been plenty of heartache for New York over the years, with their last championship coming in 1973 and their last NBA Finals appearance in 1999. They reached this stage last year, when they were eliminated by a Tyrese Haliburton-inspired Indiana Pacers, but the difference this year is the development of the Knicks' defense under coach Brown. Towns, Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges form an elite unit that can dominate off the boards and provide pressure on the perimeter. They've held opponents to under 100 points in five of their last seven games, and combined with the shooting that saw them put 144 past the 76ers in Game 4, the Knicks are increasingly looking like a true contender.

Cleveland Cavaliers stats, preview, players to watch

The Cleveland Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals the hard way, needing seven games to overcome a physical Detroit Pistons side in one of the most gruelling series of the playoffs so far. The Cavaliers looked on the brink after losing Game 6 at home, but they impressively beat the East's number one seed 125-94 in Game 7.

They were led once again by a big performance from Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 28.1 points per game through the Detroit series. The seven-time All Star repeatedly carried the Cavaliers offensively during difficult stretches of the series and will be their go-to guy again. James Harden's form has been up and down since his mid-season trade from the LA Clippers and is chasing his first ring, but the veteran guard still brings huge playoff experience and another genuine scoring threat alongside Mitchell in the backcourt.

Cleveland's big-man pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen showed just how destructive they can be in Game 7 in Detroit, both scoring over 20 points and dominating the physical Pistons in the rebounding categories. They will have a crucial role in this series as they try to tackle KAT. There is still a feeling that this Cavaliers side has not fully realised its potential, despite the level of talent across the roster. When everything clicks offensively, very few teams in the NBA can live with them, as Detroit discovered during the closing stages of the previous round.

With their series against the Toronto Raptors also going the distance, Cleveland are battle-hardened after surviving two consecutive seven-game series, but there is also the question of whether the physical toll of those matchups could begin to catch up with them deeper into the postseason. It's a decade since the Cavaliers' first and only NBA title, when LeBron James led them to a memorable comeback from 3-1 down against the Golden State Warriors.

Knicks vs Cavaliers prediction: Who will win the Eastern Conference finals?

A major talking point in this series will be how Cleveland’s frontcourt pairing of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen deals with Towns offensively. KAT’s ability to stretch the floor and pull opposing big men away from the basket could create opportunities for Brunson and New York’s perimeter scorers throughout the series. There is also an interesting rest-versus-rust debate surrounding the Knicks after their sweep of Philadelphia, but the extra recovery time may ultimately prove valuable deep into a physically demanding postseason.

Cleveland won’t fear New York after surviving two consecutive seven-game series, particularly given the level of star power on their roster. When even three of their four stars turn up, the Cavaliers are incredibly to contain, and their physicality inside could also cause problems for a Knicks side that has not faced a frontcourt of this quality so far in the playoffs.

The Knicks, however, simply look like the more complete and balanced team heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. Since the tactical adjustment that saw Towns become their main playmaker, New York have looked incredibly fluid offensively while continuing to improve defensively. Opponents are still struggling to find an answer to the Brunson-Towns combination, with Brunson’s late-game scoring and KAT’s ability to create mismatches causing problems all over the court.

Cleveland’s playoff experience and resilience should ensure this is a competitive series, but after two exhausting rounds there is a sense the Cavaliers may eventually run out of steam against a fresher Knicks side that is peaking at the right time.

Our prediction: Knicks to win in six

Knicks vs Cavaliers schedule

• Game 1 - Cavaliers @ Knicks - Wednesday, May 20 (1am BST)

• Game 2 - Cavaliers @ Knicks - Friday, May 22 (1am BST)

• Game 3 - Knicks @ Cavaliers - Sunday, May 24 (1am BST)

• Game 4 - Knicks @ Cavaliers - Tuesday, May 26 (1am BST)

Check out the latest betting promotions from Ladbrokes to enhance your betting experience.

View the latest basketball odds here.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.