The first test is the toughest competition in the conference.
The Knicks, fresh off their first conference finals in a quarter-century, open next season at home against the Cavaliers, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The contest is Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. and was announced as part of NBA’s opening week on ESPN.
It’ll also represent the first meaningful game of Mike Brown’s tenure in New York.
The Knicks also face the Cavaliers on Christmas at MSG — as the only East teams playing on the holiday — with the league clearly identifying them as the cream of an otherwise weak and injury-diminished conference.
The Cavs won 64 games last season — including all four head-to-heads with the Knicks — and return its star core of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.
The Knicks captured 51 games but advanced a playoff round further than Cleveland, ultimately falling in six games to the Pacers in the conference finals.
Both the Pacers and Celtics would have contenders but their star players — Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, respectively — will miss most of next season, if not all of it, after succumbing to Achilles tears.
The other top teams in the East include the Magic, Pistons and Bucks, although Milwaukee’s success will assuredly hinge on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s desire to stay or demand a trade.
The Knicks, who controversially canned their successful coach Tom Thibodeau after last season, open their preseason earlier than the rest of the NBA because they’re traveling to Abu Dhabi for exhibitions against the Sixers (Oct. 2 and 4).
They finish the preseason at home against the Timberwolves (Oct. 9) and Wizards (Oct. 13).
It’ll be part of the first training camp for Brown, the veteran head coach who was hired last month and has pushed a desire of playing a faster, more inclusive offense.
For its annual MLK Day game — which takes place on Jan. 19 next year — the Knicks host the Mavericks at 5 p.m. on NBC and Peacock, the network announced .
Assuming his health that day, Cooper Flagg, the ballyhooed Mavs rookie, will make his Garden debut as a pro.
The full NBA schedule will be announced Thursday.
