Knicks take commanding 3-0 lead in Eastern Conference Finals

The New York Knicks have seized control of the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 series lead. The victory moves New York within one win of securing their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.

Jalen Brunson led the offensive charge with 30 points, supported by 22 from Mikal Bridges and 21 from OG Anunoby. New York maintained control throughout the contest, leading for the entire duration and holding a 91-82 advantage at the end of the third quarter. The Knicks shot 43-of-77 from the field, including 11-of-28 from three-point range, and converted 24-of-27 from the free-throw line.

The win marks the Knicks' 10th consecutive postseason victory, a feat last achieved by the Boston Celtics during their 2024 championship run. New York is the seventh team in NBA history to win at least 10 straight games during a playoff run. All but one of these recent victories have been by double digits, and the team’s point differential of plus-225 over the 10-game span is the largest in NBA history, encompassing both regular season and playoff games.

Cleveland struggled to find offensive rhythm, particularly from beyond the arc. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 21 for the Cavaliers, who shot just 12-of-41 from three-point range. The Knicks extended their lead decisively in the fourth quarter when Landry Shamet made three three-pointers in 99 seconds, pushing the score to 105-94 and effectively ending any hope of a comeback.

New York entered the playoffs as the third seed and has demonstrated significant momentum since. The series now shifts back to Cleveland, where the Knicks can clinch the Eastern Conference title and advance to the NBA Finals with a victory on Monday night. The Associated AP contributed to this report.