Brunson and the Knicks host Cleveland to begin Eastern Conference finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference) will be facing off against the New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) in what promises to be an exciting Eastern Conference finals matchup. The game is set to take place in New York on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT.

The Knicks have home-court advantage in this series, having won 2 out of the 3 regular-season games against the Cavaliers. The last time these two teams met, the Cavaliers emerged victorious with a 109-94 win led by Donovan Mitchell’s 23 points. Jalen Brunson put up 20 points for the Knicks in that game.

New York has been dominant against Eastern Conference opponents this season, boasting a 35-17 record. They have shown their ability to win close games with a 9-4 record in one-possession games. On the other hand, the Cavaliers have also been strong against Eastern Conference teams, posting a 33-19 record. They are second in the conference in scoring, averaging 119.5 points per game.

One key matchup to watch in this game will be the three-point shooting. The Knicks average 14.2 made three-pointers per game, the same average that the Cavaliers allow. Cleveland shoots 48.2% from the field, which is 2.2% higher than their opponents’ shooting percentage against the Knicks this season.

In terms of player performance, Jalen Brunson has been a standout for the Knicks, averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns has been averaging 17.4 points over the last 10 games. For the Cavaliers, James Harden is leading the way with 23.6 points and eight assists per game. Donovan Mitchell has been averaging 26.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 44.4% over the last 10 games.

In their last 10 games, the Knicks have been on a hot streak, going 8-2 and averaging 120.4 points per game. The Cavaliers have also been performing well, going 6-4 and averaging 111.1 points per game.

In terms of injuries, OG Anunoby is listed as day-to-day for the Knicks with a hamstring injury, while Larry Nance Jr. is out for the Cavaliers due to illness.

Overall, this Eastern Conference finals matchup between the Knicks and Cavaliers promises to be a thrilling showdown between two talented teams vying for a spot in the NBA Finals. Be sure to tune in to see which team will come out on top in this highly anticipated series.