The New York Knicks are heading back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years after completely dominating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
Led once again by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks crushed Cleveland 130-93 in Game 4 on Monday night at Rocket Arena to finish off a stunning 4-0 series sweep.
Brunson was later unanimously named Eastern Conference Finals MVP as New York continued what has become one of the most dominant playoff runs in franchise history.
Now, the Knicks will wait for the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, a series currently tied 2-2 entering Game 5.
And perhaps most importantly, New York now gets more than a week of rest before the NBA Finals begin on June 3.
Knicks Take Complete Control Early
Game 4 was never truly competitive.
The Knicks exploded offensively from the opening quarter, shooting 56% from the field while repeatedly torching Cleveland in transition. They knocked down six three-pointers in the first period alone and built a 12-point lead quickly.
Things only got worse for Cleveland in the second quarter.
New York unleashed a devastating 20-0 run that completely broke the game open, eventually stretching the lead to 25 before halftime. Knicks fans inside Rocket Arena could even be heard chanting “MVP” for Brunson as the Cavaliers struggled to respond.
By the third quarter, the lead ballooned to 30 points and the game effectively turned into a celebration.
Brunson Leads Another Balanced Knicks Attack
While Brunson once again controlled the game, New York’s depth and balance continued to shine.
Brunson finished with 15 points and five assists despite not playing at all in the fourth quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks in scoring with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while OG Anunoby added 17 points.
For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points in what became the Cavaliers’ final game of the season. Evan Mobley contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, while James Harden struggled from deep, finishing 0-for-6 from three-point range.
Knicks Enter Finals on Historic Winning Streak
The Knicks now carry an incredible 11-game playoff winning streak into the NBA Finals.
Their last postseason loss came all the way back on April 23 during the opening round. Since then, New York has rolled through the playoffs with back-to-back sweeps over the Philadelphia 76ers and Cavaliers.
Most of those victories have not even been close.
The Knicks eliminated the Atlanta Hawks by 51 points in Game 6 of the first round before dismantling Philadelphia and Cleveland in dominant fashion.
Only four teams in NBA history have ever produced an 11-game winning streak within a single postseason.
Now, New York stands just four wins away from ending a championship drought that dates back to 1973.
Whether they face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder or Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the Knicks suddenly look like a team nobody wants to face.
