Knicks move within a win of NBA Finals with another lopsided victory over Cavaliers

CLEVELAND — Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Mikal Bridges added 22, and the Knicks moved within one game of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 with a 121-108 victory over the Cavaliers on Saturday night.

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OG Anunoby had 21 points as New York led the entire game. The Knicks were 43 of 77 from the field, including 11 of 28 on 3-pointers. They were also 24 of 27 from the foul line.

The Knicks can wrap up the Eastern Conference Finals and sweep their second straight series with a win on Monday night. New York is the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight during a postseason run. The last team to do it was the Celtics, who also went on a 10-game run on their way to the 2024 title.

All but one of the Knicks’ wins have been by double digits, with an average margin of victory of 22.5 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 21 for Cleveland. The Cavaliers were 12 of 41 on 3-pointers, and 12 of 19 from the foul line.

New York led, 91-82, at the end of the third quarter, but put it out reach in the fourth when Landry Shamet made three 3-pointers in a 99-second span to make it, 105-94.

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The Knicks made their first four shots en route to a 9-1 lead less than two minutes into the game. New York was 12 of 17 from the field in the quarter and was up, 37-27, after 12 minutes.

Cleveland rallied and tied it at 50-all on a jumper by Harden before the Knicks countered with a 10-1 run. They went into halftime with a 60-54 advantage.

Brunson had six of his 12 points during an 8-1 run midway through the third quarter as the Knicks extended their lead to 83-70 with 3:41 remaining.