The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Finals, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years.
Published May 26, 2026
As the clock neared, few Cleveland Cavaliers fans were seen. The New York Knicks left no reason to stick with them.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, defeating the Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.
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Patient fans took over Cleveland’s arena as the Knicks extended their franchise playoff-record winning streak to 11 games, matching the third-longest one-postseason winning streak in league history.
“Growing up in the (New York) area, I feel like the word hope has been gone for a long time, so it’s special to have it back,” Towns said. “There’s no better place to be than when there’s hope in (Madison Square) Garden.”
OG Anunoby scored 17 points for New York, and Landry Shamet scored 16 points on 4-of-4 3-point shooting off the bench for New York, which built a 29-point lead in the second quarter and extended its lead to 123-78 in the fourth.
Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each had 15 points, and Josh Hart had six points, 11 rebounds and six assists. The former Villanova championship teammates relished the opportunity to win the East Division together.
“It’s surreal,” Hart said. “We already share a lifelong bond and brotherhood, and we look forward to continuing to create more memories.”
Brunson averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists and was named series MVP. The Knicks outscored their opponents by 262 points during the winning streak, the most dominant period in the playoffs or regular season in league history.
“They’re turning on the heater.”
Donovan Mitchell had 31 points and Evan Mobley had 15 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which advanced to the East Finals for the first time since 2018. James Harden had 12 points and five turnovers, but missed all six of his 3-point attempts.
“At the end of the day, sometimes you have to give the other team credit,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “They played great basketball and they have the heaters on.”
Mike Brown of the Knicks will be making his second NBA Finals as head coach after leading the Cavaliers to their first East Championship in 2007.
The 37-point loss was the Cavaliers’ heaviest home playoff loss in history.
“We have unfinished business,” Mitchell said. “I have no doubt that this group can get there.”
New York won the rebound battle 60-33 as backup center Mitchell Robinson grabbed 10 boards in 18 minutes.
The road team hit the winning run early, going on a 20-0 run that spanned 4:39 from the end of the first quarter to the second. Towns’ dunk stopped the momentum and made the score 50-26.
In the end, the Knicks built a 61-32 lead on Shamet’s third 3-pointer of the first half.
Mitchell scored 10 points and Mobley added seven points in the first six minutes to give the Cavaliers a 17-14 lead. A 9-0 run then put New York in first place for good. Robinson replaced New York and had six points and four rebounds, ending the quarter on a 24-9 run.
Cleveland backup point guard Dennis Schroder was injured late in the game due to illness.
Among the Knicks’ celebrity fans sitting courtside were comedian Tracy Morgan, director Spike Lee and actor Timothée Chalamet.
New York will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Both teams are currently tied at 2-2 in the Western Conference Finals.
