Brunson's 30 Put Knicks One Win from NBA Finals

Brunson’s 30 Put Knicks One Win from NBA Finals

Sport

By lines

May 23, 2026

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points as the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-108 in Game 3. New York holds a 3-0 Eastern Conference Finals lead after Saturday’s road win in Cleveland. The Knicks are one victory from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000.

How Brunson’s Relentless Scoring Broke Cleveland’s Defense

Brunson shot 10-for-19 from the field and distributed six assists across 38 minutes. Mikal Bridges delivered 22 points on 11-for-15 shooting with six rebounds and three steals. OG Anunoby contributed 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The Knicks led 37-27 after the first quarter and controlled the contest from there.

The New York Knicks are shooting 53.8% during their current 10-game playoff winning streak. That figure is the best of any team since the run started April 25. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell posted 23 points but shot 9-for-21 from the field and 3-for-10 from three-point range. Mitchell committed five turnovers in 38 minutes. The Cavaliers entered Game 3 needing a win to avoid a 3-0 hole. Cleveland fell behind by 10 points inside the opening quarter.

The New York Knicks are the seventh team in NBA history to win 10-plus consecutive games in a single postseason. The 2024 Boston Celtics were the last to accomplish that feat. Boston went on to win the NBA championship that season. No team in NBA history has recovered from a 3-0 series deficit. Of 161 teams to face that situation through May 2026, none has won the series. The last squad to force a Game 7 while trailing 0-3 was the 1951 New York Knicks. That team lost to the Rochester Royals in the deciding game.

Cleveland now faces elimination in Game 4 on Monday in Ohio. The Cavaliers need four straight wins to advance, a feat no NBA team has accomplished from 0-3. A fourth consecutive loss would end Donovan Mitchell’s season despite Mitchell’s 23-point effort on Saturday. Mitchell said he was a Knicks fan growing up and was not shocked by the crowd noise. Mitchell told reporters Knicks supporters chant in every arena when New York is on the road.

Game 4 tips off Monday, May 25, in Cleveland. The Knicks enter on 10 consecutive wins and need one more to reach the Finals. The Cavaliers must produce a comeback no NBA team has ever delivered from 0-3. A Knicks closeout would send New York to its first NBA Finals since 2000.