The New York Knicks took a 2-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night with a decisive 99-79 victory at Madison Square Garden (New York Post). Knicks fans were out in full force to witness the victory and were described as “electric” (Bleacher Report). The team was boosted by the Garden crowd’s support, which has been a constant for the franchise through the years (New York Post).
Jalen Brunson, who had his first taste of playoff basketball in a Knicks jersey, spoke highly of the energy in the arena. He praised the Garden as “one of the best places to play in the world” (New York Post). Another standout player for the Knicks was RJ Barrett, who broke through a shooting slump with 19 points on the night (New York Post).
The Knicks’ lockdown defense was also a crucial factor in their Game 3 victory. They stymied Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland, who struggled throughout the game (New York Post). However, the Knicks suffered a setback when Quentin Grimes left early with a shoulder injury (New York Post).
Donovan Mitchell, a New York native, will be looking to turn the tide for the Cavaliers in the next game. Mitchell had to make a difficult decision to leave his hometown in order to pursue his basketball career, but he will be anything but a hometown hero to his New York pals (New York Post).
Overall, the Knicks are feeling confident after their big Game 3 win, but they know they still have work to do in order to advance to the next round of the playoffs. They will look to build on their momentum and take control of the series in their next matchup against the Cavaliers (Bleacher Report).
