The roar coming from Knicks fans is growing louder with every win, and now the New York Knicks are one victory away from ending a 27-year wait for the NBA Finals.
Behind another brilliant performance from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks rolled past the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 on Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
Brunson scored 30 points and controlled the pace from the opening tip, while Mikal Bridges added 22 points as New York continued its dominant postseason run. The Knicks have now won 10 straight playoff games, becoming just the seventh team in NBA history to accomplish the feat.
The atmosphere in Manhattan felt more like a celebration than a playoff game by the closing minutes. Fans stood and chanted “Knicks in four!” as the clock wound down, sensing the franchise is on the verge of its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
New York once again showcased its balance and efficiency on offense. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while OG Anunoby chipped in 21 points. The Knicks shot a blistering 55.8% from the field, knocked down 11 3-pointers and converted 24 of 27 free throws.
Every Knicks victory during this postseason surge has looked convincing. All but one of their playoff wins have come by double digits, and their average margin of victory sits at an impressive 22.5 points.
Cleveland fought to stay within reach throughout the night behind 24 points from Evan Mobley and 23 from Donovan Mitchell. James Harden added 19 points, but the Cavaliers struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 12 of 41 attempts from 3-point range, while also leaving points behind at the foul line by shooting 12 of 19.
Even the presence of superstar couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce courtside could not inspire a Cleveland comeback.
The Knicks seized control almost immediately. They hit their first four shots and raced to a 9-1 lead less than two minutes into the game. New York shot 12 of 17 from the field in the opening quarter and carried a 37-27 advantage after one.
Cleveland responded in the second quarter and briefly tied the game at 50 on a jumper by Harden, but New York answered with a decisive 10-1 run to reclaim momentum and take a 60-54 lead into halftime.
Brunson delivered another key stretch in the third quarter, scoring six points during an 8-1 burst that extended the Knicks’ lead to 83-70 late in the period. New York entered the fourth ahead 91-82 before putting the game away for good.
Reserve guard Landry Shamet delivered the knockout punch, drilling three 3-pointers in a span of just 99 seconds early in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 105-94 and silence any hopes of a Cavaliers rally.
Now the Knicks stand just one win away from completing a second consecutive playoff sweep and punching their ticket to the NBA Finals, with Game 4 set for Monday night.
