Karl-Anthony Towns got the scoring started for the New York Knicks with a top-of-the-key three. New York jumped out to a 9-1 lead after a Mikal Bridges layup, forcing an early timeout for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Right out of the timeout, with the shot clock winding down, Donovan Mitchell nailed a step-back jumper. Towns answered with a euro-step layup before Landry Shamet knocked down a corner three to push the lead into double digits. Towns was aggressive throughout the opening quarter, scoring 11 points while shooting 3-for-4 from the field, as New York took a 37-27 lead into the second quarter.
Mitchell opened the second-quarter scoring with a tough runner off the glass. Jaylon Tyson followed with a difficult and-one finish over Mitchell Robinson. Mitchell later buried a snatch-back three over Shamet as time wound down in the half. Cleveland and New York traded buckets throughout the quarter, but the Knicks carried a 60-54 lead into halftime.
OG Anunoby and Evan Mobley traded threes to open the third quarter. Jalen Brunson banked in a layup to extend the Knicks lead to 12, their largest advantage of the game at that point. Sam Merrill later banked in a three near the end of the shot clock after struggling from deep earlier in the series. James Harden got into the lane for an and-one finish over Brunson and Robinson, but Brunson answered by throwing a lob to Robinson with 0.1 seconds remaining in the quarter. New York entered the fourth quarter ahead 91-82.
Josh Hart cashed in a corner three early in the fourth to push the lead back to 12. Shamet then caught fire, drilling three straight threes to keep momentum on New York’s side. Brunson followed with an easy layup against lackadaisical Cleveland defense, forcing an immediate Cavaliers timeout. Max Strus later knocked down a top-of-the-key three while drawing a foul on Hart for a four-point play, and Hart was eventually called for a flagrant foul. Still, the Knicks closed things out for a 121-108 Game 3 victory.
The Knicks have now won 10 straight playoff games and have not lost in a month. New York shot 56% from the field, with Brunson leading the way with 30 points, three rebounds, and six assists. Bridges continued his scorching shooting stretch with 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting, while Anunoby added 21 points. All five Knicks starters once again scored in double figures.
Mobley led the way for Cleveland with 24 points, while Mitchell added 23. Harden finished with 19 points, but once again recorded more turnovers than assists, committing six turnovers with five assists. Jarrett Allen contributed 17 points and seven rebounds.
New York now leads the series 3-0. The Knicks will remain in Cleveland for Game 4 on Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET, as the Cavaliers fight to keep their playoff run alive.
