After starting off the 26-27 NBA season 0-3, the New York Knicks bounced back to a .500 record after a dominant 135-105 win against the Chicago Bulls on November 4th. Now at 4-4, the Knicks look to continue to keep the pace and stay as much above .500 as they can and gain a higher position in the Eastern Conference. On Wednesday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder and fell back to a 4-4 record. Both teams are hungry to continue the momentum through the beginning of November, especially for the Cavs, who were defeated by the Knicks during last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. In their first matchup of the season at MSG, New York looks to show that last year’s championship run wasn’t a fluke, while Cleveland is looking to prove they’re a better team than a year ago.
Against Chicago, 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson finished with 33 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his eighth double-double of the season. Towns ranks second in rebounds this season, averaging nearly 14 a game. Although he struggled, shooting three for 10 from the field and one-for-six from three, OG Anunoby dropped 18 points. New York shot 51% from the field, 43% from beyond the arc, while pulling down 57 rebounds. The Knicks led by as much as 44 points at one point, and this victory had to be their best win to date just by the sheer dominance. They’ll hope to continue that momentum heading into Friday’s matchup.
Cleveland fell 124-116 to Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, also falling to a 4-4 record; however, the Cavs frontcourt and backcourt are truly dangerous. On one side, you have Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, two guys who can score in a hurry and drop a ton of baskets over that 48-minute stretch of the game. Then you have Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, two guys who can score, rebound, pass, and defend the ball with ease. Mitchell had a team-high of 27 points during the loss to the Thunder; however, he’ll need to be more efficient if he and the rest of the Cavs want to stop last year’s champions.
Both teams are better known for their offensive prowess, so it will be the defense that will need to make an impact throughout the game. Towns against Allen may be the biggest matchup of the night, as both men want to limit the other’s rebounding numbers. If Allen can stop the dominance of the six-time all-star by limiting his points in the paint, limiting his three-point attempts and holding back his rebounds, the Cavs can walk away with the win. Mitchell and Harden must be effective scoring options, while Brunson, Anunoby, and others need their offense to be better than it was on Wednesday night.
Due to the fact that the Knicks have home-court advantage, that may give them the little edge they need in this one to walk out with a win. If New York wants to continue finding success during the 26-27 season, they must step up and take the first matchup of the series against the Cavaliers, a team they swept during the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago. Cleveland must have the ball moving and the shots clicking, especially from their main scorers. I’m predicting the Knicks will win 107- 101 on Friday night.
