Knicks Sweep Cavaliers, Reach First Finals Since 1999

Sport

By lines

May 26, 2026

New York Knicks sweep Cleveland Cavaliers in 2026 Eastern Conference Finals stylized illustration

The New York Knicks reached the 2026 NBA Finals on Monday in Cleveland. The Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 130 to 93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The sweep ended a 27 year Knicks Finals drought dating back to 1999.

New York Closes Out a 27-Year Wait

Jalen Brunson scored 15 points in the Game 4 clincher and Mikal Bridges added 15 for New York. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 19 points and 14 rebounds in Game 4 against Cleveland. OG Anunoby contributed 17 points and Landry Shamet added 16 off the Knicks bench. The Knicks led from start to finish at Cleveland’s arena on Monday night. The 37 point margin ended the Cavaliers 2025-26 season at the team’s home arena.

Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game across the four game Eastern Conference Finals series, per ESPN. Brunson shot 48.7 percent from the field against the Cavaliers in the series. The Eastern Conference Finals MVP vote went unanimously to Brunson on Monday. Brunson entered Game 4 averaging 27.8 points across the 2026 postseason. Brunson became the franchise’s first Eastern Conference Finals MVP in Knicks history, per NBA.com.

The Knicks have not appeared in an NBA Finals since the 1999 Eastern champions team. The 1999 Knicks lost the Finals in five games to the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks have not won an NBA title since the 1973 championship over the Los Angeles Lakers. This series marks a 53 year title gap for the New York franchise entering the 2026 Finals. The 1999 Knicks featured Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and Latrell Sprewell as 8 seed Finals runners-up.

The 2026 NBA Finals winner secures the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the franchise. The Knicks now wait on the Oklahoma City Thunder versus San Antonio Spurs Western Conference series. Victor Wembanyama dropped 33 points to even the Spurs and Thunder series, per Lines.com coverage. Brunson moves to within four wins of his first career NBA title. The series winner faces the Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals opener in early June.

The Cleveland Cavaliers face roster questions after the sweep ended their 2025-26 run. Donovan Mitchell publicly backed Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson after Game 4, per ESPN. Mitchell told reporters the Cavaliers core remains intact for the 2026-27 season. The Cavaliers entered Game 4 trailing the Knicks 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals series. Atkinson now enters another offseason as the Cleveland head coach.