The New York Knicks are on the cusp of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their playoff winning streak to 10 games.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 30 points, OG Anunoby added 21 points, and Mikal Bridges contributed 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting, pushing the Cavaliers to the brink of elimination on Saturday.
“I don’t know what to say,” Brunson said. “I think the most important thing is we fought.”
The Knicks hold a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals and can close out the series in Game 4 on Monday in Cleveland.
No team in NBA history has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.
“The series isn’t over,” Anunoby said. “We have to keep the pressure on them and try to win.”
Brunson emphasized the need for the Knicks to stay focused. “Just focus on one possession at a time.” “The way we’ve maintained that mindset over the past few weeks, we have to continue, even better.”
The Knicks last appeared in the NBA Finals 27 years ago, losing to San Antonio. They have not won an NBA championship since 1973.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 13 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals for the Knicks, while Josh Hart contributed 12 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. New York has not lost in a month.
“Our mindset didn’t change,” Brunson said. “We try to improve every day. Learn from the wins. There are a lot of things we can do better. A lot of things we can control, a lot of mental mistakes to clean up, but we always look for ways to get better.”
Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers with 24 points, Donovan Mitchell added 23 points, and James Harden scored 19 points.
The Cavaliers, who lost a 22-point lead in Game 1, never led as New York took control early and dominated.
“I guess you could say the momentum carried over [from Game 1],” Anunoby said. “We try to play the right way each game, but maybe that momentum stretches a bit.”
New York opened the game shooting 10 of 13 from the floor, building a 29-19 lead after just 8 minutes 29 seconds, with Towns scoring 11 points during that run, leading to a 37-27 edge after the first quarter.
Cleveland cut the halftime deficit to 60-54, but the Cavs committed six turnovers in the first six minutes of the third quarter.
The Knicks led 91-82 entering the fourth quarter and extended the margin to 110-93 in the final minutes before completing their fifth consecutive victory.
“It’s just executing the game plan on both ends of the floor, playing the right way, moving the ball, and stopping the opponent,” Anunoby said of the Knicks’ success formula.
