The New York Knicks are on the brink of making their first NBA Finals appearance in over two decades, after securing a commanding 121-108 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. Jalen Brunson led the charge with 30 points, while Mikal Bridges contributed 22 points to the Knicks’ effort.
OG Anunoby also played a crucial role, adding 21 points as the Knicks maintained their lead throughout the game. New York’s impressive shooting performance saw them make 43 of 77 field goals, including 11 of 28 from beyond the arc, and an impressive 24 of 27 from the free-throw line.
The Knicks have the opportunity to close out the Eastern Conference Finals with a win on Monday night, potentially sweeping their second consecutive series. This achievement would make them the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight games during a postseason run, a feat last accomplished by the Boston Celtics in 2024.
Throughout their playoff journey, the Knicks have dominated their opponents, winning all but one of their games by double digits and boasting an average margin of victory of 22.5 points. In the latest game, Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 21 for the Cavaliers, but their efforts fell short as Cleveland struggled with their shooting, going 12 of 41 on 3-pointers and 12 of 19 from the foul line.
The Knicks took an early lead, making their first four shots to establish a 9-1 advantage within the first two minutes of the game. By the end of the first quarter, New York was ahead 37-27. Although Cleveland managed to tie the game at 50-all with a jumper from Harden, the Knicks responded with a 10-1 run to regain control, entering halftime with a 60-54 lead.
Brunson’s performance was particularly notable in the third quarter, where he scored six of his 12 points during an 8-1 run that extended the Knicks’ lead to 83-70. Landry Shamet’s three consecutive 3-pointers in a 99-second span during the fourth quarter further solidified New York’s lead, making it 105-94 and putting the game out of reach for the Cavaliers.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
