CLEVELAND — The New York Knicks continued their clinical march through the postseason on Saturday night, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. The victory extends New York’s playoff winning streak to 10 games and places them just one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years.
The Knicks have established a lethal, recurring blueprint during this postseason run: weather the opponent’s early energy, make sharp halftime adjustments, and pull away effortlessly in the second half. Nine of New York’s 11 playoff victories this year have come by double digits, while their only two losses were by a combined total of two points.
On Saturday, it was a balanced attack that dismantled Cleveland. Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby provided the first-half punch, scoring 22 and 21 points respectively. Anunoby, showing no lingering effects from the right hamstring injury that sidelined him late in the previous round, also added seven rebounds. Together, the duo spearheaded a perimeter defense that held the Cavaliers to a dismal 12-of-41 (29.3%) from the 3-point line.
When it came time to close the door, Jalen Brunson took over. The All-Star guard scored 21 of his game-high 31 points after halftime.
"We have a bunch of individuals in that locker room who work really hard, and they're very psychotic about their work and things they do," Brunson said. "When their number's called and when it's time to go, they're ready. A lot of real professionals on our roster."
In stark contrast, Cleveland's star backcourt sputtered late. Donovan Mitchell was held to just 4-of-14 shooting in the second half, while James Harden attempted only four shots after the intermission.
A Historic Postseason Run
With the victory, the Knicks became only the eighth team in NBA history to win five consecutive games in a single postseason by 10 or more points. Historically, that level of dominance bodes well for a championship parade: four of the previous seven teams to achieve the feat went on to win the NBA Finals.
| Teams with 5+ Consecutive Double-Digit Postseason Wins | Postseason Result |
| 2009 Cleveland Cavaliers | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2004 Indiana Pacers | Lost in Conference Finals |
| 2026 New York Knicks | TBD (Currently up 3-0) |
| 2021 Phoenix Suns | Lost in NBA Finals |
| 2017 Golden State Warriors | Won NBA Finals |
| 2004 Detroit Pistons | Won NBA Finals |
| 1985 Los Angeles Lakers | Won NBA Finals |
| 1947 Philadelphia Warriors | Won NBA Finals |
The Depth and Freshness Advantage
The disparity in energy between the two teams was palpable. Cleveland has been playing every other day since Game 5 of their grueling first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, logging 13 games since April 29. New York, by contrast, has played just eight games in that same span.
That freshness is the byproduct of a deliberate regular-season strategy implemented by Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Brown, who previously served under championship coaches Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich, intentionally utilized his depth over the 82-game schedule to preserve his core.
"They were guys that went deep into their bench," Brown said of his mentors. "They would say, 'It's not about now, it's about the postseason.' You keep guys engaged by doing that. That's something I stole from them."
The strategy is paying massive dividends. Swingman Josh Hart, who led the NBA in minutes per game last season, saw his average scaled back to 30.2 minutes this year. Hart noted that the reduction, combined with a stricter focus on nutrition and recovery, has allowed him to play at a much faster pace in May.
Furthermore, New York’s bench depth proved vital in silencing the Cleveland crowd in Game 3. Reserve guard Landry Shamet scored 12 points on four 3-pointers—including three critical buckets in the second half—to halt Cleveland's momentum.
The Knicks will look to complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals on Monday night in Game 4 at Cleveland.
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