NEW YORK — Possession to possession, quarter to quarter and game to game, the Cavaliers have shown they are capable of adopting different personalities during the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Will they roar back with ferocity after choking away a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter and losing Game 1 115-104 in overtime to the New York Knicks? Or will they curl into the fetal position, produce a dud and fall into a 2-0 hole in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals?
Either way, it’s time to buckle up because Game 2 is set for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 21, at Madison Square Garden, and another test of the Cavs’character will be under the bright lights in The Big Apple.
Here are predictions for Game 2 from Akron Beacon Journal writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich:
Cavs vs Knicks predictions. Who wins Game 2? | Ryan Lewis
- If the logic for picking the Cavaliers in Game 1 was that they might be able to jump on a rusty Knicks team, it means the fourth-quarter collapse hurts even worse, given the golden opportunity presented to Cleveland. Through three quarters, it did seem as though the hot-shooting Knicks had cooled, and the Cavs might have been able to steal an early game in New York.
- The Cavs will collectively try to lean on what was going so well through the first three quarters, which is perhaps fair to a degree given they were cruising. Donovan Mitchell looked fantastic, the Cavs were finding open 3-pointers all over the floor and the hack-a-Mitch strategy with Mitchell Robinson was working perfectly.
- Game 2 is likely as much up to the human element as anything else. The Cavs have a quick turnaround after a devastating loss, and the Knicks might be playing free while feeling like they dodged a tricky situation. And OG Anunoby has only had more time to get closer to 100% healthy, another reason the Cavs really needed to convert on their Game 1 chance. Game 2 is now a tall task for Cleveland.
- Knicks 114, Cavs 109
Knicks vs Cavs predictions. Who wins Game 2? | Nate Ulrich
- Even though Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t adequately express it during his postgame news conference on the heels of Game 1, Atkinson must know he let his team down amid the Knicks’ fourth-quarter comeback. He didn’t call a timeout in an attempt to stop the bleeding until it was way too late. He didn’t do enough with strategy or personnel to limit Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson in crunch time.
- Brunson repeatedly hunted a matchup with Cavs point guard James Harden. Brunson went 7-of-8 shooting against Harden in the fourth quarter and overtime, per ESPN. “It’s no secret we were attacking Harden,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after Game 1. Atkinson must find better solutions. The expectation here is he will in Game 2, but the devastating part for the Cavs is they cannot hop into a time machine and redo Game 1.
- Forward Dean Wade is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, yet the Cavs have other players worth trying against the Knicks. Guard Keon Ellis is one. He played five minutes in Game 1, and there is an argument he should have received a longer leash despite his butter fingers on offense. Wing Jaylon Tyson is another. He didn’t play in Game 1, and it’s probably time to give him another chance after his emotional technical foul in Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons clearly cost him playing time.
- Lately, the Cavs’ personality has switched to the opposite of what has been widely expected. If you’re still in the this-will-be-a-long series camp, the crystal ball calling for Cleveland to bounce back shouldn’t be the most shocking development ever — certainly not more shocking than the Cavs’ meltdown in the Eastern Conference Finals opener.
- Cavs 103, Knicks 98
Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich cover the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. The Beacon Journal sports department can be reached at BJSports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers vs New York Knicks Game 2 predictions