The New York Knicks are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. Overwhelming the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 130-93 blowout victory on Monday, New York completed a 4-0 sweep in the Eastern Conference Finals and extended their franchise-record playoff winning streak to 11 games.
Karl-Anthony Towns dominated the interior with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while O.G. Anunoby chipped in 17. Sharp-shooter Landry Shamet provided a massive spark off the bench, perfect from beyond the arc with 16 points on 4-of-4 three-point shooting.
”We’re going to enjoy it for a day or two but we’ve got a larger goal here and we’ve got to start locking in,” Shamet said following the victory. “We’ve got four more wins to try and go get and we know it’s going to be even harder. Being in this position with this team, it’s pretty special.”
The Knicks, whose only championship titles came in 1970 and 1973, now await the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs, currently gridlocked at 2-2.
If New York manages a sweep in the upcoming championship series, which begins June 3, they will tie the 2017 Golden State Warriors’ all-time NBA playoff win streak record of 15 games.
”We knew our team was capable of doing this,” Towns said. “All we had to do is put the work in and continue to believe in each other. That’s what we did and that’s why we’re here.”
Jalen Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 25.5 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds across the series. He contributed 15 points in the clincher, bringing the Knicks’ postseason record to an impressive 12-2. The milestone is deeply personal for Brunson, whose father was a guard on the 1999 Knicks finals squad when Jalen was just two years old.
”It means a lot, but I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, the belief they had in me,” Brunson said. “They give me the confidence. They let me be me. Most importantly, we all believe in each other from top to bottom. It’s an honor to play with them.”
Teammate Josh Hart echoed the sentiment, praising Brunson’s leadership: “He doesn’t let us get too high or too low. He wants to make sure we double down on our habits and play this game to win. Everybody wants each other to be successful. Everybody is willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. When you do that, that’s what makes a great team.”
The game was decided early in the first half. New York ignited an 8-0 run to close the opening period, followed by a devastating 12-0 surge to start the second, building an insurmountable 50-26 advantage. Shamet, Brunson, and Miles McBride tore Cleveland’s defense apart from deep during the pivotal stretch, with Shamet later draining another long-range bomb to push the first-half lead to 61-32.
New York refused to let up after halftime, suffocating Cleveland defensively and forcing 22 turnovers that translated into 34 fast-break points. Donovan Mitchell fought hard for the Cavaliers, finishing with a game-high 31 points, but received little help.
”I’m disappointed for the group,” Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson admitted. “You want to fulfil your expectations. That was disappointing.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown, meanwhile, lauded his team’s culture and relentless drive.
”Every single one of the guys on the team has sacrificed. Every single one of the guys on the team has competitive spirit,” Brown said. “Every single one of the guys on the team is connected. Every single one of the guys on the team believe in each other and the process and they all hold me and each other accountable.”