Knicks vs – With the Knicks one win from a sweep and an NBA Finals berth after 27 years, Game 4 in Cleveland (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) isn’t just another chapter. It’s where the Cavaliers need a rare fast start, a lineup rethink, and a way to slow New York’s offense after a playo
CLEVELAND — The Knicks don’t just want to win. They want to finish.
New York heads into Monday’s Game 4 one win from sweeping the Eastern Conference Finals and reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. The pressure on Cleveland is obvious: the Cavaliers are the ones who have to stop a team that has handled close-out moments cleanly.
This series isn’t New York’s first “close the door” test in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. In the first round, the Knicks won Game 6 in Atlanta by 51 points. In Game 4 of the conference semis vs. Philadelphia, they were up 20 points late in the first quarter and led by as many as 44. Now they get another chance to pull the series into the Finals track.
Here are three things to watch as the Knicks try to earn another long break before the championship stage.
Can the Knicks’ offense stay hot?
Over their 13 playoff games. the Knicks are posting an effective field goal percentage of 59.3%—the best mark for any team in NBA playoff history. That’s a jump from their regular-season effective mark of 55.7% (ninth best). It’s also about 13% better than their expected effective field goal percentage of 52.6%, based on the quality of their shots.
Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson have been central, and it shows in specific shot-making. OG Anunoby is 27-for-53 from the field (51%) and Landry Shamet is 17-for-31 (55%) on the 3s. Brunson and Bridges together are 51-for-102 (50%) on pull-up 2-pointers.
These numbers aren’t guaranteed to hold forever—large sample size doesn’t exist in the postseason the way it does in the regular season. But the Knicks are getting comfortable attacking the Cavaliers’ defense in different ways.
Donovan Mitchell has become Brunson’s new favorite target, especially through actions designed to get Brunson downhill. Over the last two games, Mitchell has been guarding a matchup where Brunson is setting 21 ball-screens. In Games 2 and 3, the Knicks scored 25 points on 19 chances (1.32 per) with that action.
If Cleveland wants to extend the series, it can’t wait for New York’s shooting to cool on its own. The Cavaliers have to make the Knicks feel uncomfortable offensively—before the hot streak becomes the new normal.
The Cavs need a (rare) good start
Game 3 was the first game in these playoffs where the Knicks never trailed. The pattern matters because it mirrors what New York has done in prior close-out situations.
Both of their close-out games this postseason have come with the Knicks leading by at least 20 in the first quarter. The Cavaliers, by contrast, have shown vulnerability early.
In these 17 playoff games, Cleveland has trailed by double digits in 11 of them. Game 3 on Saturday was the fifth time they’ve trailed by double digits in the first quarter. Across the entire run, they’ve been outscored by 7.1 points per 100 possessions in their first quarters.
That struggles profile is mostly offense. Cleveland has scored 105.7 per 100 (and has committed more than 20 turnovers per 100 possessions) in the first quarter. Another slow start gives New York too much room to keep turning momentum into points.
There is at least one reason to believe Cleveland will feel the urgency. The Knicks were the league’s third-best team (46-6) when leading by double digits in the regular season, and they’re 10-1 when leading by double digits in the playoffs—with the only loss coming in Game 2 of the first round.
Lineup change?
Game 3 ended with the Knicks defeating the Cavaliers 121-108 to take a 3-0 series lead.
If the Cavaliers are looking for ways to change the feel of the game, starting lineup adjustments are one of the few levers they can pull quickly. Cleveland’s lineup wasn’t described as “bad” in the first two games, but the offense has dropped off sharply since.
In the series, the Cavs have scored just 69 points on 66 offensive possessions (105 per 100). Dean Wade isn’t solely responsible for the struggles, but his involvement has been limited compared to the moment. Wade has attempted just nine shots in 67 minutes.
The Cavaliers could raise their offensive ceiling by replacing him with Sam Merrill, Max Strus, or Jaylon Tyson.
Merrill has only played 32 total minutes in the regular season and playoffs combined alongside the other four starters. but in those minutes Cleveland has scored 80 points on 66 offensive possessions (121 per 100). Merrill had a rough Game 2 (0-for-7 from 3), yet he was 2-for-4 from deep on Saturday.
Wade has been the primary defender on Brunson. and Brunson would probably like a different assignment—especially if it changes what Cleveland can do when New York repeatedly attacks off screens. Still. with how often the Cavaliers have switched screens. the initial defender matters less than it would if Cleveland were trying to keep that defender attached to the Knicks’ leading scorer.
One way or another, Game 4 is arriving with the stakes already set. The Knicks are trying to turn one more win into a Finals run after 27 years. Cleveland’s best chance to survive it starts with something rare: coming out sharp enough. early enough. and with a lineup answer that can keep New York from running the same playbook again—on Monday. in their own building.
Knicks Cavaliers Game 4 Eastern Conference Finals Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges Donovan Mitchell Dean Wade Sam Merrill Max Strus Jaylon Tyson NBA Playoffs 2026