Jalen Brunson delivered an impressive performance with 30 points, while Mikal Bridges added 22, as the New York Knicks triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108. This victory brings the Knicks within one game of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks can secure their spot by winning the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.
The New York fans made their presence felt, chanting “Knicks in four!” as the final moments of Game 3 ticked away. The Knicks have become the seventh team in NBA history to achieve a minimum of 10 consecutive wins during a postseason. The last team to do it was the Boston Celtics during their 2024 title run.
New York’s victories have been dominant, with all but one being by double digits and an average margin of victory of 22.5 points. Karl Anthony-Towns emphasized the need to maintain focus, stating, “We’ve just have to keep our mind on the task at hand. The game is over and we found a way to win. We have to execute at a high level in Game 4.” He contributed with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
OG Anunoby added 21 points as the Knicks led throughout the game. Their efficient shooting was evident with a 55.8% field goal percentage, complemented by 11 successful 3-pointers and 24 out of 27 free throws.
On the Cavaliers’ side, Evan Mobley put up 24 points, Donovan Mitchell scored 23, and James Harden contributed 19. The Cavaliers struggled from beyond the arc, going 12 for 41 on 3-pointers, and 12 for 19 on free throws.
Even the presence of Taylor Swift alongside Cleveland Heights’ Travis Kelce couldn’t bolster the Cavaliers to overcome the Knicks. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged, “I think their physicality and energy, we couldn’t get to that level to combat it. They’re on a hell of a run. We haven’t been able to stop the momentum.”
New York held a 91-82 lead at the end of the third quarter and extended it in the fourth when Landry Shamet made three 3-pointers almost back-to-back, increasing the lead to 105-94. Knicks coach Mike Brown commended the team’s persistence and speed, saying, “Our guys were locked in from the beginning of the game and it showed from the first few minutes of the game.”
The game started strong for New York with an early 9-1 lead in under two minutes. The Knicks were shooting effectively, maintaining a 37-27 advantage after the first quarter.
Cleveland managed a brief comeback to tie the score at 50 with Harden’s jumper. However, the Knicks responded with a 10-1 run, leading the half 60-54. In the third quarter, Brunson netted six points during an 8-1 burst, extending New York’s lead to 83-70.
Shamet highlighted the team’s resilience, stating, “It’s the next-man-up mentality and the guys found me a few times. We knew we were going to get a real good punch from that team, and we weathered their best punches tonight.”
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