Cavaliers face win-or-go-home Game 5 in NBA Playoffs against New York Knicks

CLEVELAND — Must-win game. Do or die. Win or go home.

Regardless of which phrase is used, everyone knows what’s at stake Wednesday night for the Cavaliers in Game 5 against the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Cavs trail the Knicks 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, meaning Cleveland needs to prevail to avoid elimination and force the first-round NBA playoff series back to New York for Game 6.

If the Cavs were to triumph Wednesday, Game 6 would be Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where Cleveland lost twice in the regular season and then fell in Game 3 and Game 4 in the postseason.

Cavs replay: Cleveland drops Game 4 to New York Knicks and trails in first-round NBA playoffs series 3-1

If the Cavs were to lose Wednesday, their 2022-23 season would end in disappointing fashion, just five games into their first playoff appearance since 2018 and first without LeBron James since 1998.

If the Cavs were to somehow capture victory in the next two games, a winner-take-all Game 7 would be Sunday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse because Cleveland (51-31 in the regular season) earned the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed and home-court advantage while New York finished fifth (47-35).

Can Cavs find their mojo from Game 2?: ‘My little man’ Evan Mobley rebounds for Cavs and looks to maintain momentum vs. Knicks

Check back here to see how Game 5 unfolds through our updates and analysis.

Here is some pregame information.

Will Caris LeVert start for the Cavaliers in Game 5 against the Knicks?

For the third consecutive game, Caris LeVert will start for the Cavs instead of Isaac Okoro, the team announced.

LeVert entered the series as the Cavs’ sixth man and Okoro as Cleveland’s starting small forward.

Will Quentin Grimes play for the Knicks in Game 5 vs. Cavs?

Knicks guard Quentin Grimes entered Wednesday listed as questionable to play because of a right shoulder contusion. Shortly before tipoff, the Knicks ruled out Grimes.

Story continues

Cavs vs. Knicks first-round NBA playoffs schedule. What time is Game 5 in Cleveland?

• Game 5: Wednesday, April 26, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (7 p.m., NBA TV, Bally Sports Ohio)

• Game 6: Friday, April 28, Cavaliers at Knicks, Madison Square Garden (time, channel TBA)*

• Game 7: Sunday, April 30, Knicks at Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (time, channel TBA)*

*If necessary

How can I watch Game 5 of Cavs vs. Knicks NBA playoff series on TV?

Game 5 between the Cavs and Knicks can be viewed on NBA TV and Bally Sports Ohio.

How can I listen to Cavs vs. the Knicks Game 5 on the radio?

The game will air locally on 1100-AM (WTAM) and 100.7-FM (WMMS).

It will also be broadcast on these stations:

• Akron – WAKR 1590 AM

• Akron – WAKR 93.5 FM

• Ashtabula – WZOO 102.5 FM

• Canton – WHBC 1480 AM

• Celina – WCSM 1350 AM

• Celina – WCSM 96.7 FM

• Cleveland – WTAM 1100 AM

• Cleveland – WMMS 100.7 FM

• Cleveland – WTAM 106.9 FM

• Columbus – WJYD 107.1 FM

• Dover / New Philadelphia – WJER 100.9 FM

• Dover / New Philadelphia – WJER 1450 AM

• Fostoria – WFOB 105.7 FM

• Fostoria – WFOB 1430 AM

• Lima – WIMA 1150 AM

• Lorain / Elyria – WEOL 930 AM

• Lorain / Elyria – WEOL 100.3 FM

• Lorain – SPANISH – WNZN 89.1 FM

• Mansfield – WRGM 1440 AM

• Mansfield – WRGM 106.7 FM

• Marietta – WMOA 1490 AM

• Marietta – WMOA 101.3 FM

• Norwalk – WLKR 95.3 FM

• Painesville – WABQ 1460 AM

• St Mary, WV – WJAW 630 AM

• St Mary, WV – WJAW 92.9 FM

• Painesville – WABQ 1460 AM

• Sandusky – WLEC 1450 AM

• Sandusky – WLEC 93.5 FM

• Wooster – WQKT 104.5 FM

Ryan Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs vs. Knicks: Live game score and updates from NBA Playoffs Game 5