Basketball is back at the Mecca and the world’s most famous arena which is Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks made it as far as they have in the past 25 years last season, making it to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Eastern Conference finals but lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games. The Cavaliers lost in disappointing fashion due to injuries in some circumstances also to the Pacers in five games. These two teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks are the favorites out of the Eastern Conference to make the NBA Finals.
The Cavs coming into this game were without all star guard Darius Garland as he is continuing to recover from offseason surgery along with Max Strus. Deandre Hunter was also out this game due to a knee injury. The Knicks were missing Josh Hart due to back spasms and Mitchell Robinson with left ankle load management. The starters for the Knicks were Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ariel Hukporti. The Cavs’ starters were Sam Merill, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The Knicks and the Cavs battled in the first quarter as the Knicks were up 33-23. Mikal Bridges led the way with 10 points. Evan Mobley had 8 points. Rebounding was crucial this whole game as the Knicks outrebounded the Cavs 15-7 in the first quarter. In the second quarter Mike Brown did something that Thibodeau rarely if ever did. He utilized his bench, giving minutes to Tyler Kolek, Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson, Trey Jemison, Miles McBride, and Landry Shamet. The Knicks went on a 10-0 run down the stretch of the second quarter and had a 15 point lead heading into halftime with the score being 65-50.
In the third quarter Cleveland was rolling. Donovan Mitchell scored 21 points in the third quarter. The Cavs as a team outscored the Knicks 37-22. The Cavs held a lead at one point late in the third quarter but it was a tie game entering the fourth quarter at 87-87. In the beginning of the fourth the Knicks went on a 12-2 run led by Karl-Anthony Towns. In crunchtime Sam Merrill made a three-pointer to cut the Knicks leads to 5. Brunson fired a pass to Bridges who found OG in the corner for a clutch three pointer to extend the Knicks lead to 8. That would essentially be the dagger as the Knicks won 119-111.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Cavs with 31 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and eight rebounds. OG Anunoby had a double double as he finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds, KAT had a double double of his own, and Jalen Brunson had 23 points four rebounds, and five assists. The key stat for this game is that the Knicks outrebounded the Cavs by 16. The Cavs will stay in the city as they next play the Brooklyn Nets at home this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Knicks will stay at the Garden and will play the Boston Celtics at home this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The final score was 119-111 in favor of the New York Knicks.
