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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterKnicks zero in on NBA Finals with third win over Cavs
Brian Dulik • May 24th, 2026 5:17 pm
Jalen Brunson has powered the New York Knicks to within one win of the NBA Finals | Photo: AP
Jalen Brunson has scored 30 points and Mikal Bridges 22 to lead the New York Knicks to a 121-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA's Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks' victory on Saturday gave them a commanding 3-0 lead in the series and a franchise-record 10th straight play-off triumph.
They are one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999. Game 4 is on Monday in Cleveland.
Karl-Anthony Towns collected 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for New York, while Josh Hart had 12 points, nine rebounds and a play-off career-high tying four steals.
Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Donovan Mitchell had 23 and James Harden added 19 for the Cavaliers, who appeared fatigued for the second game in a row after playing every other day since April 29. All three players had at least five turnovers.
Cleveland needed the full seven games to beat the Toronto Raptors in the first round and the Detroit Pistons in the East semifinals. No NBA team has overcome a 3-0 deficit in any play-off series.
Brunson took over in the third quarter with 12 points, pushing New York out to its largest lead at 83-70.
Landry Shamet buried three 3-pointers in a 99-second span early in the fourth and OG Anunoby delivered the dagger with a 3-pointer that made it 110-93 with just over five minutes to play.
The Cavaliers forged their first of two ties at 48-48 on a Harden layup in the second, but the Knicks held a 60-54 advantage at the half.
Anunoby scored 13 points in 15 minutes while Harden had 14 points and Mitchell and Jarrett Allen each had 12.
Bridges had four points in the first two minutes as New York jumped in front 9-1, then extended it to 29-19 behind 11 points without a miss from Towns.
Mitchell had seven points for Cleveland, which trailed 37-27 after the first.
Knicks coach Mike Brown lost his challenge seven minutes into the first quarter, failing to get a goaltending call against Towns overturned.
Sitting courtside were superstar singer Taylor Swift and her fiance Travis Kelce, a Kansas City Chiefs tight end who grew up in neighbouring Cleveland Heights.
