NYK nears NBA Finals berth after dismantling Cavs

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The New York Knicks moved a win away from securing their first trip to the NBA Finals in 27 years after taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road, 121-108, in Game 3 of the ongoing Eastern Conference Finals on May 24, 2026.

With another masterclass, the Knicks jumped to a 3-0 series lead and will have the chance to join the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs as the only franchises to sweep back-to-back playoff series.

Just like their Game 2 win, New York got off to a white-hot start, banking on an efficient shooting display from the perimeter while shutting down Cleveland’s half-court-oriented offense.

The Knicks held Cleveland scoreless in the first two minutes of the opening quarter, limiting them to a 0-of-6 start from the field, which forced Kenny Atkinson to call a quick emergency timeout.

Karl-Anthony Towns led New York’s first-quarter assault after dropping 11 big points in the frame alone, helping the Knicks take a much-needed 10-point lead heading into the following quarter, 37-27.

Just when the Knicks thought they could replicate their first-quarter heater, Cleveland flipped the switch in the second period, receiving a solid offensive outburst from Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Donovan Mitchell, which helped the Cavaliers pull within a single-digit deficit at the half, 60-54.

Cleveland found an opening to stay within striking distance after trimming New York’s lead to just a deuce at the start of the third quarter, but Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Landry Shamet stepped up when the Knicks needed them most, spoiling the Cavaliers’ comeback attempt with an interior scoring clinic.

When the Cavaliers threatened to retake the lead, Bridges scored eight straight points to restore order, turning a two-point game into a double-digit affair in a span of five minutes.

Brunson then took advantage of Cleveland’s brief offensive drought, scoring back-to-back driving floaters that protected New York’s massive lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the first two minutes of the final canto, Shamet extended New York’s lead to as many as 16 points after burying two huge treys. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Mitchell’s personal scoring run, backed by James Harden’s five-point swing, wasn’t enough to shift the momentum to its side, as the Knicks always had answers, courtesy of Bridges, who was efficient from the floor in 39 minutes of playing time.

The two-way swingman missed only four of his 15 total attempts from the field, concluding another New York win with a third consecutive efficient shooting display.

Despite a slow start in the first half, Brunson managed to turn things around in the second half, top-scoring for the Knicks in the Game 3 win with 30 points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal.

Bridges backstopped Brunson with 22 markers on 11-of-15 shooting, while OG Anunoby, Shamet, and Towns had 21, 14, and 13 points, respectively.

On the other hand, Cleveland received a 42-point combined effort from Mitchell and Harden, but the Cavaliers just couldn’t withstand New York’s high-octane attack and perimeter prowess.

Can New York finish the series with a sweep? Or will the Cavaliers show one more fight and force a Game 5 back to Madison Square Garden?