Knicks close in on NBA Finals: Takeaways from Game 3 win vs. Cavaliers

The New York Knicks secured a 121-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Knicks, who have not lost since back-to-back defeats to the Atlanta Hawks in April, extended their current winning streak to 10 games, marking the sixth time in franchise history they’ve recorded five or more double-digit postseason wins. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 30 points and six assists, while Mikal Bridges added 22 points, including 11-for-15 shooting. The Cavaliers, now facing elimination, failed to overcome a 10-point deficit in the first quarter and never held the lead in the game. Cleveland shot just 12 of 41 (29%) from three-point range, compounding their struggles against the Knicks’ strong defense. The Knicks’ dominant performance included an early 10-point lead and a late third-quarter surge that built a 13-point advantage. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 13 points, including 11 in the opening quarter, as the team maintained its momentum. Before the game, the Knicks had the best point differential (212) in any nine-game span in NBA history, combining regular season and playoffs. The Cavaliers will host Game 4 on May 25 at 8 p.m. ET, with the Knicks needing one more win to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The series now hinges on Cleveland’s ability to overcome a 3-0 deficit, a feat no NBA team has achieved in history.