Knicks’ path to a repeat runs straight through Cleveland

The Knicks will not get to ease into the part of the schedule that matters. The NBA has them visiting Cleveland on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. ET, a national-TV rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals.

For the Knicks, it is more than a tidy early-season game. Cleveland was the team standing in the way before New York finished its title run, and the Cavaliers will have that date circled before the arena doors open.