NBA Playoffs 2026, odds: New York Knicks are biggest favorite for franchise in Eastern Conference Finals since at least 1988
The New York Knicks are their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, and if it seems like Knicks fans are excited about their team’s prospects to advance to the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999, the oddsmakers agree.
The Knicks opened as huge -270 favorites in the ECF (implied probability of 73%), with the Cleveland Cavaliers as +220 underdogs. It is the biggest favorite that the Knicks franchise has been in an ECF since 1988, which is as far back as the Sports Odds History database goes.
In addition to having a terrific roster, New York is also aided by an astonishing rest advantage heading into the series, as the Cavaliers won Game 7 in a hard-fought series against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and now will have to play again in less than 48 hours. The Knicks last played all the way back on Sunday, May 10, when they finished off the Philadelphia 76ers 144-114 in a four-game sweep.
New York has won seven straight playoff games by an average margin of over 26 points per game, after falling behind two games to one in its Round 1 series against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Knicks are 7.5-point home favorites in Game 1 on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
