Image Credit: NBA
NEW YORK, NY — The New York Knicks are now one win away from the 2026 NBA Finals after dismantling the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday night on the road.
From the opening tip inside Rocket Arena, the Knicks controlled the tempo, intensity and physicality of the game, silencing the Cleveland crowd of 19,432 early while building a lead that they would never surrender. New York jumped out to a quick 9-1 advantage less than two minutes into the game and never looked back, continuing what has become one of the most dominant postseason stretches in franchise history.
Jalen Brunson once again led the way for New York, finishing with 30 points and six assists while controlling the offense throughout the night. The 29-year-old guard took over during a pivotal third quarter stretch, scoring 12 points as the Knicks pushed the lead back to double digits after Cleveland briefly threatened in the second quarter.
Mikal Bridges continued his sensational postseason run, scoring 22 points on an efficient 11-for-15 shooting performance while adding six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Bridges, 29, repeatedly punished the Cavs in transition, helping the Knicks build a massive fast-break advantage that completely shifted the game.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while operating as the offensive hub Mike Brown envisioned throughout the series. Despite Cleveland focusing heavily on limiting Towns’ playmaking opportunities, the 30-year-old big man consistently made the right reads and finished the game without committing a turnover.
“KAT—he was our hub offensively,” Brown said postgame of the Dominican-American center. “Seven assists and zero turnovers. He was really good for us offensively and defensively, the three steals, but his ability to fire back in the pick-and-roll situation was really good.”
OG Anunoby continued to show signs of improvement after battling through a hamstring injury earlier in the postseason, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds while anchoring another strong defensive performance.
The Knicks shot 55.8 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from beyond the arc while forcing 17 Cleveland turnovers. New York also dominated in transition, outscoring the Cavaliers 17-4 in fast-break points.
Landry Shamet delivered one of the game’s biggest momentum swings off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers, including several daggers in the fourth quarter that effectively ended any Cleveland comeback hopes.
“We have had that next-man up mentality,” Brunson said. “We have a bunch of individuals in that locker room who work really hard and they’re very psychotic about their work and the things they do and that they’re ready physically and mentally.”
Cleveland struggled once again from three-point range—a theme throughout the first three games of the series—shooting just 29.3 percent from deep despite generating quality looks throughout the night. Donovan Mitchell finished with 23 points but acknowledged after the game that execution remains the Cavaliers’ biggest issue, stating, “Let’s start with making some shots, getting some stops, and making some free throws.”
Cleveland’s head coach Kenny Atkinson added, “This is a tough one, getting down 3-0. Nobody is hanging their heads and no one is giving speeches or anything. We are still a together group. We have a great group that believes in each other and will stick together. I think from the players’ message, it was ‘let’s get this one (Game 4), get this next one and go from there. You never know what can happen.’”
With their 121-108 Game 3 ECF win in Cleveland, the Knicks are now up 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals and one win away from the NBA Finals – Image Credit: NBA
The Knicks have now won 10 consecutive playoff games and hold a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. No team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series.
“Just gotta keep your mind on the task at hand,” KAT said. “You know, the game is over. We found a way to win tonight, but we got to have the same desperation like it’s 0-0. It’s Game 1. We gotta go out there and execute at a high level. And be disciplined in our gameplan.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Cleveland, where the Knicks will have their first opportunity to clinch their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.
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