New York Knicks moved to the brink of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in game three of the Eastern Conference finals.
The Knicks now lead the series 3-0 and are just one victory away from sealing a place in the NBA Finals.
Playing at Rocket Arena, New York produced another commanding performance and remarkably never trailed throughout the contest.
Jalen Brunson starred once again with 30 points, while Mikal Bridges added 22 points in another dominant display from the third seeds.
The Knicks are now on a franchise-record streak of 10 consecutive play-off wins, with an average winning margin of 22.5 points during the run.
Karl-Anthony Towns Praises Knicks’ Play-Off Form
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Knicks continued their remarkable postseason surge.
“We always felt the sky is the limit with this team,” Towns said after the victory.
New York will now have the opportunity to complete the series sweep in game four at the same venue on Monday night.
Historically, no NBA team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in a play-off series, placing the Cavaliers in an extremely difficult position.
Cavaliers Struggle To Respond In Must-Win Situation
Despite strong individual performances from Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland failed to slow down the Knicks’ momentum.
Mobley finished with 24 points, Mitchell added 23, while James Harden scored 19 points for the Cavaliers.
However, Cleveland’s defence once again struggled against New York’s aggressive attacking approach.
The Cavaliers now face the daunting task of trying to become the first team in NBA history to overturn a 3-0 play-off deficit.
NBA Finals Opponent Yet To Be Decided
The winners of the Eastern Conference finals will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals.
Oklahoma City currently lead the Western Conference finals 2-1 heading into game four against San Antonio.
The 2026 NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on 4 June.
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