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Recap: Knicks rout Cavaliers, earn first Finals berth since 1999

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The Knicks are on to their first NBA Finals since 1999 after defeating the Cavaliers on Monday night.

The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 130-93, racing out on the fast break and never looking back to complete a sweep and advance to the 2026 NBA Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns (19 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl) was your top performer of the night, while Jalen Brunson (15 pts, 5 ast) won the Larry Bird Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York scored the most points in NBA Playoff history without a 20-point scorer.

Follow along with the best of the contest by enjoying the NBA.com live blog.

What we know after Monday’s game:

MAY 25, 2026 / 11:07 ET

One time for the New York Knicks

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:52 ET

Postgame Presser: Knicks-Cavaliers

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:39 ET

The celebration is on

Jalen Brunson (25.5 ppg in the series, 15 tonight) was presented with the Larry Bird Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Eastern Conference Finals by Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Patrick Ewing.

“It means a lot. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates,” said Brunson. “Our resilience — our ability to stay focused, stay composed…. from top to bottom, it means something.”

“It’s the players… they’re just great, great human beings, and they’re obviously great basketball players,” said Mike Brown. “Every single one of the guys on the team has sacrificed. Every single one of the guys on the team has competitive spirit.”

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:33 ET

Knicks advance to first Finals since 1999

With a dominant performance, the Knicks close out the Cavaliers 130-93 and head to the NBA Finals for the first time in this millennium.

Karl-Anthony Towns (19 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) led six Knicks in double figures, backed by Landry Shamet (16 pts, 4 3PM) and OG Anunoby (17 pts).

The Knicks earned a 58-24 advantage in bench points and a 33-9 gap in fast break points, leading by as many as 45 on their way to victory.

Donovan Mitchell (31 pts) was the top man for the Cavaliers.

It was a dominant performance. The Cavs came out in the first with a burst of energy, and the Knicks calmly countered and raised, ushering them out the door.

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:23 ET

Celebrate, Knicks fans

Patrick Ewing and John Starks are in the attendance. The rout is on, with the NBA Finals in sight.

It’s your night, Knicks fans.

126-86 with 2:26 to go in the fourth.

On May 25, 1993, Starks did this. It’s a special day in history for the New York Knicks.

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:15 ET

Benches are in

Jose Alvarado, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mo Diawara and Ariel Hukporti for the Knicks.

Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, Jaylon Tyson and Thomas Bryant for the Cavaliers.

111-76 Knicks with 6:35 to go in the fourth quarter. New York took control of this game early and never looked back.

MAY 25, 2026 / 10:03 ET

Knicks up 98-71 after three

“If you want to talk about a perfect team, how they’ve built, how they’ve been constructed, the efficiency, the sacrifice, you can point to the New York Knicks,” said Richard Jefferson.

We’re into rarified air in Rocket Arena, as the Knicks look poised to reach their first NBA Finals since 1999.

MAY 25, 2026 / 9:51 ET

Knicks rolling along

91-63 Knicks with 3:02 to go in the third quarter.

Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson just combined on the two-man game for a slam, as Shamet continues his stellar play off the bench.

Donovan Mitchell (26 pts on 16 shots) is waving the banner for the Cavaliers, but they’re down big.

MAY 25, 2026 / 9:39 ET

Cavaliers within shouting distance

72-56 Knicks with 8:46 to go in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers’ defense steps up with their season on the line.

New York’s 1-of-8 from the field so far in the quarter, along with two turnovers.

MAY 25, 2026 / 9:16 ET

Knicks up 68-49 at the half

Karl-Anthony Towns (10 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl), Jalen Brunson (10 pts, 4 ast) and Mikal Bridges (10 pts, 2 reb, 3 ast) are going off for the Knicks, while Landry Shamet (11 pts) leads the team in scoring in 9:38 off the bench.

New York is shooting 52.1% from the field, while Cleveland’s down at 39.5%.

The Knicks led by as many as 29 in the first half, opening up advantages in bench points (27-3), fast break points (26-3) and points in the paint (26-12).

Donovan Mitchell (20 pts) and James Harden (12 pts) are the only players in double figures for the Cavaliers.

MAY 25, 2026 / 9:12 ET

Cavs go zone

66-47 Knicks with 1:11 to go in the half, after the Cavaliers switched to a 2-3 zone to cut down on the New York offense.

James Harden (12 pts) scored five points and dropped two assists during the 10-5 stretch.

Donovan Mitchell (20 pts) is going off for Cleveland as well, as they seek to get back into this one.

MAY 25, 2026 / 9:02 ET

Knicks keep rolling

61-37 Knicks with 4:44 to go in the first quarter, as New York continues to dominate in front of a mixed crowd at Rocket Arena.

The Knicks are on pace to score 60 fast break points in this game. The NBA record in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) is 56.

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:54 ET

Knick bench making waves

New York has a 22-3 advantage in bench points so far as well, building a 53-29 lead with 8:10 to go in the second.

“You talk about a team that’s loose and confident,” said Tim Legler. “This Knicks team, offensively, is so connected, with each guy believing in the next.”

Seven of the nine Knicks that have played tonight have logged 6+ points so far.

#Knickstape, anyone?

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:47 ET

‘The Knicks are red hot once again’

46-26 Knicks with 10:27 to go in the second, as they start the quarter on an 8-0 run, led by 3-pointers from Miles McBride and Landry Shamet.

Shamet’s become a force over the course of this series — he made a catch-and-sidestep 3-pointer look like tossing a rock into the ocean a moment ago.

The Knicks are 8-of-15 (53.3%) from 3-point range so far, while the Cavaliers are 4-of-15 (26.7%).

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:42 ET

Knicks up 38-26 after one

New York took an early jab from Cleveland and responded, taking control of the quarter to take a double-digit lead into the second.

“We did a great job weathering the first punch,” said Karl-Anthony Towns (8 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast). “We can throw our own punch now. We just have to keep that desperation, that intensity.”

The Knicks are up to a 13-3 advantage in fast break points and 18-3 in points in the paint.

Josh Hart (3 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast) is a team-high +16, while Jalen Brunson (7 pts, 4 ast) is +12.

Donovan Mitchell (12 pts) is the top scorer for Cleveland, while Evan Mobley (7 pts, 3 reb) hasn’t yet been able to capitalize on a hot start.

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:40 ET

Knicks heating up

38-26 Knicks with 24.3 seconds to go in the first. They’re up to 55.6% from the field.

The Knicks have hit 55% or better four times in these Playoffs, the most by any team since the 2021 Warriors – who had Mike Brown as an assistant coach.

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:30 ET

Knicks on a 9-0 run

23-17 Knicks with 4:20 to go in the first quarter, as Karl-Anthony Towns knocks down a 3-pointer and Jalen Brunson escapes on the break for two.

The Knicks’ success on the fast break is becoming a problem for the Cavs, who have had trouble with some of the finer points of the game at times in this Playoff run.

New York has a 10-3 advantage in fast break points and a 14-6 lead in points in the paint.

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:26 ET

Mobley on it

Evan Mobley (7 pts, 3 reb) has hit his first three shots for the Cavaliers, including a 3-pointer and a dunk off an offensive rebound. He and Donovan Mitchell (10 pts) have all 17 points for the Cavs so far.

On the other side, Mikal Bridges (6 pts on 2-of-4 shooting) has been aggressive for the Knicks.

17-16 Cavs with 6:00 to go in the first.

MAY 25, 2026 / 8:16 ET

Cavaliers open hot

Donovan Mitchell (6 pts) has two quick 3-pointers here in Game 4, as the Cavaliers look to make a statement early in Rocket Arena.

Evan Mobley (2 pts) had the first bucket of the game. Kenny Atkinson could look to establish the power forward — of the Cavaliers, he has the most left to give.

8-5 Cavaliers with 9:22 to go in the first.

MAY 25, 2026 / 7:45 ET

Update to the injury report

Dennis Schröder is out for the Cavaliers.

Ajay Mitchell and Thomas Sorber are listed as out for the Thunder in tomorrow’s Game 5 against the Spurs, while Jalen Williams is listed as questionable.

MAY 25, 2026 / 6:00 ET

Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to keep their season alive tonight against the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York:

  • PG Jalen Brunson
    • Brunson’s skill and savvy are consistently impressive. No one carries more craft into the paint — every step, every movement is precise and poised. At 6’2”, he shows up every night while running the third-highest usage rate in the Playoffs (min. 250 minutes).
  • SG Josh Hart
    • Hart is making 1.5 of his 4.8 3PA (30.2%) in his Playoffs run — below his career average of 34.1%, but good enough to keep opposing defenses largely honest.
  • SF Mikal Bridges
    • Watch Bridges in transition in Game 4. “His feel is unbelievable,” Coach Mike Brown said of the Villanova product’s knack for getting loose in the open floor. “He’s doing that on his own. He’s picking and choosing when to go.”
  • PF OG Anunoby
    • Anunoby is shooting 58.9/50.9/83.6 from the field in the Playoffs, knocking down 2.5 of his 4.8 3PA per game.
  • C Karl-Anthony Towns
    • The Big KAT has turned into a playmaker. New York is 9-0 when he dishes out five or more assists during this Playoffs.

Cleveland:

  • PG James Harden
    • Will The Beard rise up? Harden has averaged 21.5 ppg, 6.4 reb and 5.4 ast over 25 career elimination games. This is the 191st Playoff game of his career, passing Magic Johnson (190) for 14th all-time.
  • SG Donovan Mitchell
    • Mitchell went back to the locker room in Game 3, although he later returned. He’s lacked some of his trademark explosiveness in this series, choosing his spots more than normal. The Cavs may need a heroic performance from Spida.
  • SF Dean Wade
    • Wade has defended Brunson well in this series, holding him to 9 pts on 4-of-9 shooting while not committing a shooting foul against the Knicks’ point guard.
  • PF Evan Mobley
    • Can Mobley be the best player on the floor tonight? He led the Cavaliers in scoring in Game 3 with 24 pts; his Game 4 against Detroit, where he had five blocks and three steals, was a defensive gem. But the Cavs are better offensively with him off the floor in this Playoffs, although their defense suffers. His inability to dominate smaller defenders is limiting for Cleveland.
  • C Jarrett Allen
    • Allen is a team-low -44 in this series — one point better than Donovan Mitchell. The team has been close to statistically identical with him on or off the floor.

MAY 25, 2026 / 5:30 ET

Monday’s injury report

No players are listed on this evening’s injury report.

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