2023 NBA Playoff superlatives: A look at the top storylines

Closest matchup – Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

The Cavaliers’ return to the NBA playoffs comes with one of the premier first-round matchups between two of the NBA’s better defensive teams. While both excel on the glass, the Knicks ranked third overall in offensive rebounding and third in second chance points. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, allowed the fourth-least second-chance points during the regular season, making this a matchup of strength versus strength. New York won three of the four previous contests so far this year, making them the early favorite.