Date, time announced for Cavs’ Game 1 of first-round playoff series vs. the Knicks

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NBA on Sunday introduced the day and time of Recreation 1 of the Cavs’ first-round playoff collection towards the Knicks. The competition will tip off at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and might be broadcast on ESPN.

“I’m assured in our group,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff stated when requested Sunday afternoon about dealing with the Knicks. “I consider once we’re at our greatest we’re a troublesome out for anyone. We’d like to ensure we’re conscious and tighten up the small print and our execution and all these issues. It’s going to be a brand new take a look at for us. We now have guys which are going to be of their first playoff collection. It’s by no means going to return simple, however I’ve plenty of confidence in our group.”

The Cavs, who rested 4 of their prime seven rotational gamers in preparation for his or her playoff showdown with New York, ended the common season with a 106-95 loss towards the equally undermanned Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon. Cleveland completed with a 51-31 document and can head to the playoffs for the primary time since 2018, because the Jap Convention’s fourth seed.

The Knicks misplaced their finale Sunday, with Bennedict Mathurin scoring 26 factors to guide the Pacers to a 141-136 win.

Mathurin was one in every of seven Pacers to attain in double figures. Jordan Nwora and Andrew Nembhard every had 19 factors.

Energy ahead Obi Toppin, beginning rather than injured Julius Randle whose standing for Recreation 1 is presently unknown, scored a game-high 34 for New York, which completed the common season 47-35 and earned the fifth seed within the Jap Convention.

Previous to Sunday’s matinee, Bickerstaff requested every member of the common rotation in the event that they needed to play within the largely meaningless common season finale or get further relaxation heading into the playoffs. Two starters — Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — elected to take part, wanting to maintain some form of rhythm with practically per week off earlier than the playoff collection opener. Similar with veteran reserve level guard Ricky Rubio. The others — Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert — selected to sit down out. Beginning small ahead Isaac Okoro missed his sixth straight recreation due to left knee soreness.

The Knicks received three of the 4 common season matchups with the Cavs, together with the newest assembly — a 130-116 triumph on March 31 by which Knicks level guard Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 48 factors.

“The sport that Jalen Brunson had put us on excessive alert, and I feel that’s an excellent factor for us to have that acceptable worry of your opponent,” Bickerstaff stated. “We’ll use it, we’ll watch the movie, we’ll determine it out and we’ll be higher.”

Right here is the schedule to this point of first-round playoff collection, in addition to the play-in event video games main into subsequent weekend:

NBA Play-In Event Schedule

Tuesday

Recreation 1 — Atlanta at Miami, 7:30 ET (TNT)

Recreation 2 — Minnesota at LA Lakers, 10 ET (TNT)

Wednesday

Recreation 3 — Chicago at Toronto, 7 ET (ESPN)

Recreation 4 — Oklahoma Metropolis at New Orleans, (ESPN)

Friday

Recreation 5 — Winner of Recreation 3 at Loser of Recreation 1 (TNT)

Recreation 6 — Winner of Recreation 4 at Loser of Recreation 2 (ESPN)

First Spherical Schedule for Recreation 1s

Saturday

Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 1 ET (ESPN)

East #7 at Boston, 3:30 ET (ESPN)

New York at Cleveland, 6 ET (ESPN)

Golden State at Sacramento, 8:30 (ABC)

Sunday, April 16

East #8 at Milwaukee, TBD

West # 8 at Denver, TBD

West #7 at Memphis, TBD

LA Clippers at Phoenix, TBD

For those who or a liked one has questions and wishes to speak to an expert about playing, name the Ohio Drawback Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or go to 1800gambler.internet for extra data. 21+ and current in Ohio. Playing drawback? Name 1-800-Gambler.